Author Archives: allan
Another Frustration – Quill Runout
As many of you who’ve managed to wade through all the text on this site know, my main frustration with the Omni faceting machine is that I can’t cut rectangular stones or step cuts without extreme aggravation. Meet points just … Continue reading
Posted in Blog, Quill Runout
Tagged disassembly, Omni Faceting Head, poor manufacturing, quill, runout
Leave a comment
New Polymetric Transfer Jig
Updated Feb 7, 2010 – added photos of the Polymetric Transfer Jig. On a tip from a reader I ordered a transfer jig from Polymetric. I finally have given it a try and it works much better than the stock … Continue reading
New Spindle Has Arrived!
As I wrote about in my New Spindle Design post, I have designed what I think is a better Spindle and Platen for my Omni faceting machine. And it’s just arrived today! I’ll write more later, but here are a … Continue reading
2 Hours + $5 = New Splash Bowl
I’ve been trying to find some time to put up a full post on this, but I just haven’t been able to. A couple of weeks ago I finally ran to the Dollar Store and picked up a bunch of … Continue reading
Replace Your Omni Bearings with Proper Ones
My Omni Faceting Machine shipped with NSK 6202VV bearings. These bearings are deep-groove ball bearings with double rubber seals – one on each side. However they are “non-contact” seals, meaning that the rubber does not touch the inner ring of … Continue reading
Posted in Bearing Protection, Blog, Omni Quality?
Tagged design flaws, flooded bearings, modifications, Spindle Housing, Splash Pan
Leave a comment
Omni Faceting Machine Can’t Use Topper Laps
Further to my complaint about the Spindle Hold-down Screw being inadequate and the Spindle itself not being the correct diameter so the laps slop around, I’ve now discovered that the Omni Faceting Machine can’t handle using cheap “topper” laps. Topper … Continue reading
Omni Faceting Machine Head Design Flaw
I’ve written on a bit about the Omni Faceting Machine head design in my GemologyOnline post. One thing that I noted was the Omni Facet Head has the index pin on the bottom of the head. At the time I … Continue reading
New Spindle Design
I’ve decided I want to have a new Spindle and Platen for my Omni, so I’ve drawn up a new design. The basic design is the same as the original Spindle and Platen except that the Spindle will extend above … Continue reading
Lap Hold-down Screw
The Lap Hold-down Screw that came with my Omni Faceting Machine is a small knurled screw with a right-hand thread. The standard washer that comes with it is brass. The problem with this is that it would undo itself as … Continue reading
Posted in Lap Hold-down Screw, Omni Quality?
Tagged design flaws, lap screw, poor quality, spindle
Leave a comment
Spindle Diameter is Off
The Omni Faceting Machine I received has a Spindle diameter that is too small for my laps. Every lap I have – Crystallite plated, old Maja Mfg Steel, Ceramic, Batt, Lightning Lap with standard 1/2″ arbor holes – all slop … Continue reading
Posted in Omni Quality?, Spindle Diameter
Tagged modifications, platen, poor manufacturing, spindle
Leave a comment