[meteorite-list] wire saw cost (Benefits of the wire over blade?)

From: Michael Gilmer <meteoritemike_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Thu, 10 Mar 2011 21:28:02 -0500
Message-ID: <AANLkTim0s-LrfJfWtnxk2ibvdrZti3mi0J7wVH33VGaL_at_mail.gmail.com>

Hi List,

Can someone tell me what the advantage of a diamond wire saw is, over
a conventional lap saw blade? I'm curious, because I have never used
a wire saw or seen one in operation.

I have seen slices made by a wire saw and they didn't look any
different (better or worse) than slices made with a blade. One minor
difference I did notice was the markings left on the unpolished
slices. Blades make distinctive arc-shaped "saw marks" on the
specimen, which must be polished out. The rough wire-cut slices that
I handled also had saw marks on them, but the marks were different in
depth and orientation. After polishing, I could see no difference.

So, is the advantage that the wire saw generates less loss? (if so,
compared to what?) Like I said in my previous post, cutting loss is
in direction relation to the size of the saw being used and the
thickness of the blade - assuming the cutter is skilled. A wire saw
might generate less waste in comparison to a 10" lap saw using a .040"
blade, but I don't see how the wire saw can generate less waste than a
smaller lap saw using a blade that is the same thickness as the wire
used in a wire saw. All things being equal, shouldn't the amount of
loss be dependent almost solely on the thickness of the blade or wire
used?

I am guessing that the main advantage is cutting large specimens - a
large specimen requires a large lap saw and a large blade. If a
specimen can only be cut on a 10 or 12" lap saw, or a wire saw, then
the wire saw seems like a no-brainer. But for a smaller meteorite
that can be cut with a .012" blade (or .006"), what is the advantage
of the wire saw? Can the wire saw make thinner slices?

I'm not knocking the wire saw, just trying to understand the
advantages over a conventional lap saw.

Best regards,

MikeG


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Mike Gilmer - Galactic Stone & Ironworks Meteorites

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On 3/10/11, Greg Hupe <gmhupe at centurylink.net> wrote:
> Hello All,
>
> I don't think the value per gram is the only consideration for deciding to
> hire someone to cut your material with a wire saw. I am selling slices of my
> Impact Melt Breccia for $7.50 per gram. It isn't really about how expensive
> the material is, sometimes it is the quality of the slices and presentation
> for collectors that is even more important!
>
> Just my 2 slices worth... :)
>
> Best Regards,
> Greg
>
> ====================
> Greg Hupe
> The Hupe Collection
> gmhupe at centurylink.net
> www.LunarRock.com
> IMCA 3163
> ====================
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Andr? Moutinho
> Sent: Thursday, March 10, 2011 5:59 PM
> To: meteorite-list at meteoritecentral.com
> Subject: [meteorite-list] wire saw cost
>
> Hello,
>
> Does anyone can give me an idea of cutting cost using a wire saw to cut a
> 300g ordinary chondrite into 3mm slices?
>
> Thanks!
> Andre
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--

Received on Thu 10 Mar 2011 09:28:02 PM PST