mikeinsjc
spending too much on rocks
Member since June 2010
Posts: 324
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Post by mikeinsjc on Apr 13, 2015 18:21:02 GMT -5
I have a 36" rotating flat lap that has a mickey-mouse grit feeding system on it, and I want to replace it with something more consistent. Anyone have any ideas?
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Post by captbob on Apr 13, 2015 23:04:51 GMT -5
How about one from a sphere machine?
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jerrys
spending too much on rocks
Member since February 2014
Posts: 263
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Post by jerrys on Apr 17, 2015 12:52:03 GMT -5
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herb
spending too much on rocks
Member since November 2011
Posts: 442
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Post by herb on Apr 18, 2015 18:31:27 GMT -5
I have a 36" rotating flat lap that has a mickey-mouse grit feeding system on it, and I want to replace it with something more consistent. Anyone have any ideas? Your question comes at a good time! I am in the same situation and have been trying to think of a simple way to automatically feed the grit onto the disc. I was thinking about how a stepper motor would be good to somehow periodically turn on for a bit to push some grit out. I found this posting: www.instructables.com/id/Lapidary-Grit-Dispenser/?ALLSTEPSHe designed it to feed grit to a sphere maker, but it would work great for a flat lap too. I think the design could be simplified somehow, but not sure how. It is nice that he gives a design for the stepper motor controller that allows you to control both the amount of time the stepper is running and also the amount of time the motor is not running. I am not particularly electrically (or mechanically!) inclined but it doesn't seem like something that is too difficult to build.
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Post by johnjsgems on Apr 20, 2015 11:18:40 GMT -5
I've seen rotisserie motors set up with one of the old restaurant type metal salt shakers or cans with holes in lid for sphere machines.
At the shop where I used to live we had the metal salt shakers loaded with the different grits and sprinkled by hand as needed on the old HP rotating laps. I would be leery of feeding grit to vibrating laps. You would need to monitor too much to keep slurry consistent.
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Post by woodman on May 14, 2015 23:00:38 GMT -5
I have a 36" rotating flat lap that has a mickey-mouse grit feeding system on it, and I want to replace it with something more consistent. Anyone have any ideas? Got any pictures of what you have?
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Post by roy on May 15, 2015 9:09:36 GMT -5
i can send you pictures from my phone if you want
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Post by woodman on May 15, 2015 12:41:26 GMT -5
This what I am currently using on my flat lap. gear reduction drive I found on ebay and all thread for the auger. Have reostat to control speed but not needed with the all thread, my first auger was smaller rod wrapped with wire and I had to slow it way down or it dumped to much grit. the all thread borders on not enough grit on some slabs.
It is not real tidy but then I am not known for my neatness
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