[meteorite-list] Cutting meteorites

[ensoramanda]

Hi,

Just getting ready for the Ensisheim trip...last minute bookings etc.  
Hoping to meet some more list members there as in Tucson.
Bringing my nephew this time..he is the starsite manager in Astrophysics 
at Oxford University...so we are both looking forward to seeing some 
special rocks and the meal.

to the point...

I have just aquired an old piece of lab equipment (ebay again!) I am 
hoping to use for slicing some of my meteorites/finds.  It is called a 
'microslice' made by Metals Engineering Ltd in Cambridge UK.  It seems 
in good working order with lots of extras that are quite baffling 
without a users manual.  The obvious arm and blade are in place for 
simple cutting as with the Buehler Isomet, that someone offered on the 
list a short time ago.

I think I got a bargain....see here

Item number: 290125243513

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ih=019&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWN%3AIT&viewitem=&item=290125243513&rd=1&rd=1 

Similar machines seem to be rather expensive.

http://www.capovani.com/dp/cat/107/63160/iinfo.cfm?ts=1&LCl=893&side=0&TVTID=0&q=1&ItemNo=1762&tItemNo=0

The blade can be moved using a scale to 100th of a millimeter...so quite 
fine control and the blade speed can be varied too.
I believe it was used more for cutting bone samples from my google 
research..but I am hoping, with the right blade it will tackle rocks. 
Takes half inch centre. I just need to work out ways of using a coolant.

Any suggestions welcome.

If anyone on the list has experience with this machine I would be 
grateful for any advice.
Also looking for an old manual to help work out what all the extras do.
Some sites call the machine a macrotome too.

The extras with the machine include some strange blades and holders with 
internal diamond cutting edges(annular blades). The blades are like foil 
and are stretched on a drum that then fits where the normal blade 
rotates. Material is then cut on the tight internal edge...probably too 
delicate for rocks...but cutting losses would be very minimal if they 
were used on valuable small material.

Anyway...forward to Ensisheim.

BTW In Ensisheim, If anyone is interested in trading some very rare 
small fragmants of Wairarapa (the first New Zealand meteorite), or Alta 
ameem (Iraq observed fall) or Mokoia (carbonaceous observed New Zealand 
fall)...let me know and I will bring them to Ensisheim.

Graham Ensor Nr Barwell UK