Surface Finishing Process for Jewellery Applications
Many jewellery products are lapped and polished using Kemet Systems, the most common applications are when brass is used as the base material. This is often the case for belt buckles, pen clips, cuff links and identifying logos. Lapping and polishing using Kemet Lapping and Polishing Systems produces good cosmetic surfaces which are an excellent base for any subsequent gold plating operation.
Scope of Work: To produce a mirror finish on silver jewellery
Note: Before polishing, the burrs and sharp edges on jewellery need to be removed to prevent damaging the felt pad. Grit 4000 polishing paper was briefly used on both sides to remove the burrs.
Polishing process - Equipment used:
- Kemet 15” lapping/polishing machine
- Kemet Felt pad
- Kemet liquid diamond 1 micron Type K STD
Process breakdown for Jewellery Application
The felt pad used was charged up with diamond using a plastic faced polishing conditioning ring. Four parts were then carefully placed evenly inside the conditioning ring; a 15 inch hand weight was then faced using Anti-slip dycem to hold the parts in position. The faces were then polished for a cycle time of 3 minutes. Three rings can be run on a 15 inch machine with a maximum of 8 parts per ring resulting in 24 parts per run. The parts were cleaned using Kemet C70
Before Processing Jewellery
Parts positioned on weight
After Processing Jewellery
Scope of Work: To polish various pieces of gold jewellery
Polishing process - Equipment used:
- Kemet 15” lapping/polishing machine
- ASFL Polishing pad, 15” diameter
- Kemet liquid diamond 1 micron Type K STD
- Kemtak Plus, 140mm diameter
Process breakdown for Jewellery Application
Each gold piece was stuck using a 140mm diameter Kemtak Plus onto a 4kg hand weight and polished on ASFL polishing pad for 2 mins, using Kemet liquid diamond Type K 1 Micron. The parts were sprayed clean using CO42 and carefully removed, a new Kemtak Plus was stuck on to the hand weight and each gold piece was stuck polished side down and the polishing process was repeated. The settings were 2 second spray every 40 seconds.
Before Processing Jewellery
After Processing Jewellery
