GSP8 Complete Vertical Cabbing Machine

GSP8 Complete Vertical Cabbing Machine

This Australian Made unit is constructed of aluminium alloy casting, stainless steel shaft and heavy duty bearings. Gemmasta machines are finely engineered and manufactured in Ballina, NSW. Each Machine comes with the following accessories that will allow you to finish cabochons;

An 8-Inch Machined Aluminium Face Plate with steel disc adhered making it magnetisable. It is attached to the shaft via a 5/8" UNF Left Hand thread.
Two 8-Inch diamond disk with magnetic backing for grinding.
Four resin bonded diamond disks for the sanding process/pre polish. 
The disks have a foam core which allows enough "dip" to get an evenly rounded surface on your cabochons. They are magnetically backed and attach to the face plate without the need for glue. The disks are manufactured by Gemmasta in Ballina and replacements are readily available.
One felt disk on magnetic backing for final polish. 
One suitable polish compound. 

Complete Cabbing Machine General Purpose version
Suitable for a wide range of Gemstones.
-200mm (8 Inch) 100 Grit diamond disk with magnetic backing. 
-200mm (8 Inch) 220 Grit diamond disk with magnetic backing.
-Resin Bonded Magnetic Diamond Disks;
 #280 (BLACK) #600 (BROWN) #1200 (GREY) #3000 (PINK)
-Felt disk on a magnetic backing & SLS 50,000 Diamond Polish Syringe.
Note: the SLS Diamond Compound has an oil base and mixes well with the silicon extender fluid (can be purchased separate), this helps it spread further and can reduce heat.

Complete Cabbing Machine Opal Version
Suitable for Fine Opal like Lightning Ridge Or Coober Pedy.
Using finer grades of grinding and sanding is generally a preference for those shaping Lightning Ridge or Coober Pedy opal. Taking a finer approach limits the deep scratches that can mark the softer stones and the issue of removing too much material. 
-200mm (8 Inch) 220 Grit diamond disk with magnetic backing. 
-200mm (8 Inch) 320 Grit diamond disk with magnetic backing.
-Resin Bonded Magnetic Diamond Disks;
 #320 (GREEN) #600 (BROWN) #1200 (GREY) #3000 (PINK)
-Felt disk on a magnetic backing & 100 grams of Cerium. 
The cerium powder can be mixed into a slurry with water and painted onto the felt disc with a brush. A water spray bottle is most popularly used for keeping the pad moist.
Using finer grades of grinding and sanding is generally a preference for those shaping Lightning Ridge or Coober Pedy Opal. Taking a finer approach limits the deep scratches that can mark the softer stones and the issue of removing too much material. 

Additional Features and Information
This unit comes with a Gemmasta manufactured water kit with an articulated water hose to apply water to the disks. The end nib of the hose twists to adjust water flow and the water manifold inlet accepts a standard garden hose style of connection. We highly recommend using a gravity feed water feed to avoid building up too much pressure in the water system.

The water outlet is through the brass drain outlet at the base of the tray. Simply connect 25mm clear plastic tubing for your wastewater (not supplied).
12mm square profile rubber strip to deflect the water spray back into the tray.
Marine carpet in the tray to prevent damage to stones if they come off the dop or out of your fingers. Supplied on an epoxy sealed board with a 1/3 hp motor (RPM - 800).
Base board dimensions are: 45cm Wide, 50cm Deep & 35cm High. Designed to sit approximately 5cm overhang over the front of bench for drainage hole. Necessary bench depth needed 45cm.
Weight 16.3kg. 

New to the Lapidary Trade? Note: The disks are designed to be used incrementally from coarse to fine. Skipping steps can result in a dull or scratched finish. Water must be used on the discs when grinding or sanding. A water spray bottle is recommended to keep the cerium moist and an extender fluid to help spread the 50,000-diamond compound. 
Polish compounds should always be used on a separate felt with no risk of cross contamination. Storing them in a clean plastic bag when not in use is advisable to not gather any dirt.

Care Of Steel Diamond Plated Products
At the end of each working day stack any laps vertically to dry (a dish draining rack is good for this). Care should be taken to dry any steel diamond plated disks and steel backing plates. A light spray of Inox or WD40 between uses will help prevent surface rust forming. Do not use chemicals such as rust converters on the plated disks as the chemicals may destroy the plating and cause even greater rusting.

Safety First: Safety glasses should be worn when grinding with any abrasives!
Stone dusts as well as organic material dusts can be very hazardous. Protective breathing equipment such as a face mask should be used to protect your lungs. Good ventilation is also highly recommended.