Lapidary Cabbing Machine

What Is It?

A lapidary cabbing machine is used to shape and polish stone slabs or rough material into domed cabochons. It combines a motor-driven arbor with diamond grinding wheels and a water supply to control heat and remove debris during processing.

How It Works

Stone material is first trimmed into a basic preform shape and then worked progressively across multiple diamond wheels, starting from coarse grits and moving toward finer pre-polish and polishing stages. Water or mist cools the stone and carries away grinding residue. Grit sequences commonly range from 80/100 up to 3000 or finer, followed by a polishing pad using oxide or diamond compounds.

Core Components

Motor and arbor: Determine torque output and the number of wheels that can be mounted.
Grinding wheels: Metal-bond or resin-bond diamond wheels arranged in stages; optional expandable drums can be used with sanding belts.
Water system: Drip feed, recirculating pump, or direct supply; independent valves per wheel allow control.
Safety features: Splash guards, grounded chassis, and suitable electrical protection support safe operation.

Machine Formats and Sizes

Multi-wheel configurations: Two- to six-wheel layouts allow multiple grit stages to remain mounted.
Compact units: A small lapidary cabbing machine suits limited bench space or portable setups.
Modular systems: Some designs accept additional wheels, trim saws, or polishing laps on a shared motor platform.

Wheel and Accessory Selection

Wheel diameters, commonly 6 or 8 inches, should be chosen based on stone size and handling preference. Hard diamond wheels are used for shaping, while softer resin or foam-backed wheels assist with smoothing. A dedicated polishing pad with aluminum oxide or diamond paste completes the finish. Common accessories include dressing sticks, splash pans, dop sticks, and wax.

Application Scope

This equipment is used for producing individual cabochons, matched stone pairs, inlay blanks, intarsia preforms, and small sculpted elements. With appropriate wheels and polishing stages, it supports processing of agate, jasper, quartz-group stones, feldspar, obsidian, and selected carbonate materials.