[meteorite-list] Cutting meteorites with CBN blade

[David Pensenstadler]

Dear List:

Does anyone have any experience with cutting irons
with a Cubic Boron Nitride blade?

I purchased a 10-inch Pro-Slicer (10 x 0.012) CBN
blade from Lapidary Discounts in California and used
it to cut a 2 1/2 inch Nantan.  It worked very well
for the first 10 cuts, then, very quuckly, started to
bind up indicating that the CBN was gone from the
blade.  For the cost I expected to get much longer
life from it.

Any opinions on what kind of a life one can expect
from such a blade.  Altogether I cut about 22 linear
inches before the blade was useless.

I think I followed good cutting practices, using pella
oil for lubrication, and feeding at a rate of about 1
inch every 5 minutes (0.2 inch per minute).
Motor speed was 1750 rpm.

Any ideas?

Dave  


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