Mad Jack's taught me a lot of what I know

[Mad_Grasshopper]

Greetings!

My name is Jamie.  I am studying mechanical engineering at the University of North Carolina in Charlotte. My most active current hobby is faceting gemstones.

I have replaced the under-powered stepper motor, 28v electric train controller, and o-ring belt drive. It now uses a 1/8 hp 90vdc motor controlled by a Fincor digital controller better suited to a 1 or 2 hp lathe. The new drive is an XL timing belt  carefully selected along with its pulleys for hp requirements and prime numbers of teeth. Jack stressed to me the importance of motorcycle sprocket size selection, and I used that knowledge here.





My cat is very interested in the vernier system.




For less precise grinding I use this.

[Brass_Machine]

Hi Jamie 

Welcome to the collective

That is is neat stuff... faceting gemstones. How long have you been doing that?

Eric

[Mad_Grasshopper]

I started faceting in December 2008. I cut a tourmaline stone for my wife's engagement ring.

[cidrontmg]

Hello to you two Mad men (Jack & Grasshopper), seems that you both do some brilliant work. I don´t know (almost) anything about faceting precious stones (I´ve heard hammering them is not a good idea,    ), but I would be very interested in learning more. So I hope you post many pictures, explain the basics of faceting, and in general, enjoy yourself in here. Some of Mad Jack´s work I´ve seen,    I hope to see more of yours also.

 

[dsquire]

Mad_Grasshopper

Welcome to MadModder Jamie and thanks for posting in the Introductions here. I am really impressed by what you have shown us so far and I feel that this is only the tip of the iceberg. If you have any questions, just ask as there is always someone around to answer or at least offer an opinion. 

Cheers 

Don

[Bernd]

Welcome to the collective Mad Grasshopper. 

Mad Jack is quite the machinist. Glad he's found a student to teach.

Nice work on those stones.

Bernd