Gathering Research Process: Faceting Machine

Laying groundwork

For my machine that makes I intend on creating a specialized practice faceting machine. Faceting itself is a very specialized field focused on the transformation of gemstones into jewels and the equipment commonly used can be expensive and inaccessible to the general public. Additional necessary materials like diamond embedded laps of different grits, the gemstones, and the machines themselves can range in cost from thousands of dollars to a few hundred thrown together salvaged pieces. From what I've read on the differences between faceting machines, no matter what machine you're operating it is capable to produce a good result under the right circumstances and correct calculations. However, actual faceting machines are very dirty when used and are much more technical to operate along with waiting times between cutting phases for stones and the splash tray needing to be cleaned between cuts. This machine I intend on creating would be used as a practice tool for beginners learning faceting concepts. With simplified operation focused on the cutting of lighter foam-like material this practice faceting machine could save both time and money when learning faceting processes. 

Books

I began researching faceting and the machines used a few weeks before this project was presented in Digital Fabrication and Design by ordering multiple books on the art and technicalities involved with faceting and related gemstone practices. Although these books are more about the actual cutting of stones they include through explanations on other necessary details about faceting machines like a brief history and an explanation for variances on types (peg-board, O'Brien, and some modern cheaters) and the advantages and disadvantages. I'll include pictures from the two books themselves and list their information below. 

1. Faceting For Amateurs by Glenn & Martha Vargas ---- (all I can find are site's selling this book and recommending it, it is also not that expensive Amazon is a rip off.)

Called the "complete guide" Faceting For Amateurs is a book that covers everything that you could question about the art, culture, and practice of gemstone cutting (lapidary) and also the faceting machines operation with practical explanations. Although this book is dated 1969 it's easy to understand the reasons behind the classics being recommended as teaching devices as the machines and techniques haven't changed (unless you call automation a change). The main chapter of this book that I will accessing will be the twelve page second chapter that focuses only on faceting machines and even goes briefly over the standard brilliant cut. This chapter will help me look into the commonalities between faceting machines arrangement and the variances in arms for cutting allowing for comparison on styles.

2. Facet Cutters Handbook by Edward J. Soukup ---- (again all I find are site's selling this book paperback, which is the version I have.)

Although this book is almost entirely about the steps of actually cutting the facets into stones for a multitude of different cuts it has some important information pertaining to the doping process (which occurs during the initial placement of the stone on a rod and then also the transfer from one to another so that it remains square and cuts flat). This book also contains information about The Standard Brilliant Cut and the detailed steps involved in creating its shape. I plan on creating a machine that is for foam faceting and foam isn't something that could reflect light and actually have "brilliance" but the brilliant cut is the suggested first cut for beginners and I intend on attempting to create it as my first cut on the practice faceting machine.

Along with my books I have also been keeping a Pinterest that includes images and other online sources lending information on the build of a faceting machine or related complications.

For my next post I'll include a dissection of advice and insight from the books and the relation of those to the creation of my foam faceting machine.