[meteorite-list] wire saw cost

From: Michael Gilmer <meteoritemike_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Thu, 10 Mar 2011 21:31:19 -0500
Message-ID: <AANLkTik7Nj3Bhy=xJDi-Ypw8h3bJcgvXmFvvETAUQFZz_at_mail.gmail.com>

Judging from everything I have heard, from several different people
with experience, cutting irons seems like a major PITA. I have the
utmost respect for those who specialize in cutting and preparing
irons. Taking into account the time, labor, and expense, it's amazing
that anyone even bothers with cutting irons. I don't see how a person
could make a profit (or break even) cutting most irons. Like Marcin
said earlier, who the heck is going to slice up a big Campo? The
resulting slices wouldn't pay for the destroyed blades/wire and many
hours of labor.

For folks like Mike Miller and Mirko Graul, who prepare gorgeous iron
slices - my hat is off to you. :)

Best regards,

MikeG


----------------------------------------------------------------------
Mike Gilmer - Galactic Stone & Ironworks Meteorites

Website - http://www.galactic-stone.com
Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/galacticstone
News Feed - http://www.galactic-stone.com/rss/126516
Twitter - http://twitter.com/galacticstone
EOM - http://www.encyclopedia-of-meteorites.com/collection.aspx?id=1564
-----------------------------------------------------------------------


On 3/10/11, mail at mhmeteorites.com <mail at mhmeteorites.com> wrote:
> The optimal wire thickness for cutting stony meteorites to produce the
> straightest cuts and longest wire life is about 250 um (that includes the
> diamond coating on the wire). This is from my own experience. I can cut with
> 150 um wire, if needed. I stopped cutting irons and pallasites on the wire
> saw since it wasn't very cost effective for me or the customer. Plus they
> are a total pain in the butt.
> Matt
>
> ------------------------
> Matt Morgan
> Mile High Meteorites
> http://www.mhmeteorites.com
> P.O. Box 151293
> Lakewood, CO 80215
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: "Marcin Cimala" <marcin at meteoryt.net>
> Sender: meteorite-list-bounces at meteoritecentral.com
> Date: Fri, 11 Mar 2011 03:11:41
> To: <meteorite-list at meteoritecentral.com>
> Reply-To: Marcin Cimala <marcin at meteoryt.net>
> Subject: Re: [meteorite-list] wire saw cost
>
> Hi List
> I like to pay Your attention that diamnond wire saw is not best method for
> irons. Much better idea how to cut irons (exclude pallasites) is EDM -
> Electrical Discharge Machining
> http://www.wireedm.com/wireedm.htm
> http://www.mech.kuleuven.be/pp/research/edm
> This can cut everything what conduct voltage, so graphite, iron or diamonds
> :) I remember photo of Canyon Diablo badly cut around nano diamond rich
> nodule, becouse it was impossible to cut using conventional methods. For EDM
> it could be easy.
> Also in diamond wire saw You can't use very thin wires for irons becouse it
> will simply tear off very fast. Maybe Mr Morgan can tell what thickness he
> usualy use for most irons vs stones? In EDM equipment I use wolfram wire
> have 0.12mm thickness. In diamond wire saw u can't even think about this
> thickness.
>
> Diamond wire cutting is perrfect for stony meteorites or pallasites. But for
> irons I want suggest EDM as a preffered method.
> Ofcourse there is alvays one "but"...
>
> What material You want to cut (how expensive and how big).
> Becouse cutting 5kg Campo will be also expensive and take many hours of
> cutting, and every hour cost. Anyway I dont see a sense of cutting campo not
> matter why :D
> In EDM You can very precise cut thick slice of historic iron into two
> thinner slices or cut small (lets say up to 500g) irons all types.
> There is also problem how to find good place to cut becouse this equipment
> is much more expensive than diamond wire saw, so not everyone will like to
> waste *expensive* time of his machine to cut strange piece of crap that some
> freak bring to him.....
>
> Anyway from my personal experience, if I can choose cutting iron for free on
> my diamond saw (not wire) or pay for EDM I choose ofcourse second option. I
> have less cut loses not only from cutting , but also from grinding becouse
> slices are much more flat than from typical diamond blade. Ofcourse diamond
> wire saw will make same flat surface as EDM but for me is much more
> expensive, something like 5x :) so calculations are simple.
>
> -----[ MARCIN CIMALA ]-----[ I.M.C.A.#3667 ]-----
> http://www.Meteoryty.pl marcin(at)meteoryty.pl
> http://www.PolandMET.com marcin(at)polandmet.com
> http://www.Gao-Guenie.com GSM: +48 (793) 567667
> --------[ Member of Polish Meteoritical Society ]--------
>
>
> ______________________________________________
> Visit the Archives at
> http://www.meteoritecentral.com/mailing-list-archives.html
> Meteorite-list mailing list
> Meteorite-list at meteoritecentral.com
> http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list
> ______________________________________________
> Visit the Archives at
> http://www.meteoritecentral.com/mailing-list-archives.html
> Meteorite-list mailing list
> Meteorite-list at meteoritecentral.com
> http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list
>

--

Received on Thu 10 Mar 2011 09:31:19 PM PST