Gem Cutting Software / Programs

[Taogem]

Going to give Michaels imperial rhodonite a whirl.  I know it is not crystal like most people facet, but I think it is special material that is plenty fine grained enough for a successful first attempt at faceting.

If I understand correctly, I should get the piece of rough cut down close to the desired shape/size, which will be a tapered baguette.  Then preferably take that rough length, width and height and enter it into some kind of gem cutting software/program to obtain the exact cutting diagram dimensions for a tapered baguette that can then be digitaly entered into the faceting machine..

So a couple questions..

Do any members here have such a software program, or can recommend a free one online ?  I have searched but no luck specifically for tapered baguette cuts.

The club I am a member of does have some members that facet, so I have acess to some faceting machines. But I get the impression by watching them that they are manually mathematically calculating their cuts/angles.  I would really like to be able and know the exact and correct cutting diagram dimensions prior to setting up.

Any help or direction would be greatly appreciated..

[Taogem]

I downloaded a program called GemCad

Here is closest design ( 12.001 Baguette L/W=20 ) I could find for a baguette, but it is rectangular shaped.  Spent some time this evening trying to figure it out, but appears way above my pay grade to be able and enter any of the information from the shown 12.001 Baguette L/W=20 design into the GemCad program.

If I could figure that out, it might let me adjust the design so can create a desired "tapered shaped" baguette but only with a crown and girdle.

Because the rhodonite is not clear but opaque, no pavilion is desired as it is only useful for light returning in clear material.

I think may be in over my head 

[Debbie K]

Sorry. I used to have it on a computer years ago, but never got good at using it.

I would go back to the clubhouse and ask who uses it; you'll be surprised. Some of the older farts I know have really embraced GemCad. Even if they don't use it that much, many knew how.

Don't start with anything you can't easily replace. Faceting has a way of whittling rough down in an appalling way.

Debbie

[Brightongemstones]

http://www.facetdiagrams.org/cgi-bin/showmatches.py?shape=00&code=&name=tapered&designer=&reference=&year=&gear=&lbyw=&hbyw=&volfrac=&days_old=&nppg=20
Some tapered designs here

[Taogem]

http://www.facetdiagrams.org/cgi-bin/showmatches.py?shape=00&code=&name=tapered&designer=&reference=&year=&gear=&lbyw=&hbyw=&volfrac=&days_old=&nppg=20
Some tapered designs here

Thank you John, and yes I saw those... Here is one I found on that site after searching "keystone" that shows the girdle and crown closer to what I am shooting for..

Turns out Debbie was right.. There is indeed a club member that uses GemCab. After spending some time with him last night decided to go ahead and cut out a preform. Slowly getting on track.. 

[SSA]

This is me just being curious...

Are you looking to do all the pavilions for practice, cause I don't think it's gonna do much for you with the stone you're looking to use.

The "Note to me..." - are the grit stages on a facet polish the same as wet wheel/grinder polish

[Taogem]

This is me just being curious...

Are you looking to do all the pavilions for practice, cause I don't think it's gonna do much for you with the stone you're looking to use.

The "Note to me..." - are the grit stages on a facet polish the same as wet wheel/grinder polish

No, I am not going to do any pavilion.. Just a girdle, and crown.

The note to me about pre-polishing was suggested to me elsewhere online. 

The grits on the facet pads are quite a bit higher than the normal, 80 through 600/800  that I usually limit myself to.  Yes, there are cabbing belts than run into the thousands, but I have never used them.

So I am not really sure what to make of the comment from him, but when I mentioned pre-polishing to the club member, he said absolutely..  That is all I really know.