In a message dated 12/11/2007, tchannel1@............ writes:

Chris,   but would then, diamond on diamond be the best of all?  

Not knowing how I might do this, but I have many carbide tipped saw  blades. 
I have never looked too closely at one tooth, but they have a  point and some 
flat surfaces. If I could get some of these teeth off, or  get replacement 
teeth from the people who resharpen my blades, would these be  good pivots 
surfaces? Say one tooth point resting on one tooth flat  side.  (arranged in a set 
of two) pivots for a vertical  pendulum?   Thanks, Ted



Hi Ted,
 
    You can get elliptical diamond tips for sound  cartridges, but they won't 
take much load. But you could probably use them as  miniature cylinders? Also 
sapphire tips, but they are very small. I think that  you can in principle 
buy sapphire balls, cylinders and flats, but I don't have a  source. They are 
all manufactured.
 
    What on earth do you want saw tooth blades for?  Knife edge and true 
point suspensions don't work well or for long. Forget  them.
    If you have a really sharp edge or a point and put  a significant load on 
it, you will exceed the strength of the edge / tip  material FOR CERTAIN. The 
edge may 1) roll over 2) compress 3) chip / shatter 4)  dig into the 
counterface. This is GUARANTEED eventual FAILURE, probably sooner  rather than later 
and it is really dumb.
    The so called 'knife edge bearings' used on  chemical balances have the 
edge lapped to give a tiny half cylinder, with a max  load of maybe 200 gm 
only. Any more and they shatter.
 
    Rolling spheres and rolling cylinders both work  fine.
 
    Have a look at _www.smallparts.com_ (http://www.smallparts.com)  ?
 
    You can use Martensitic SS ball bearings. They are  cheap.
    You can also get Tungsten Carbide Balls. BIC  pens also use 1 mm ones.
 
    You can buy Martensitic Stainless Steel rod in a  wide range of sizes. It 
is cheap.
    You can buy Tungsten Carbide needle bearings.
    You can buy Tungsten Carbide drills and use the  shanks, ordinary drill 
form or 1/8" // shank types.
 
    For flats, you can buy Martensitic Stainless Steel  sheet. It is cheap.
    You can buy solid triangular Tungsten Carbide tool  tips for lathe tools.
    You can buy Tungsten Carbide scraper blades, bar  shaped or trianglar.
    You can buy Tungsten Carbide cutter blades for  electric planes.
 
    You can buy diamond and corundum paste for lapping  and polishing 
surfaces, which you can do with sheet copper.
 
    Has anyone else out there found any other  sources?
 
    Regards,
 
    Chris  Chapman   



   






In a message dated 12/11/2007, tchannel1@............ writes:
<=
FONT=20
  style=3D"BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" face=3DArial color=3D#000000 size=
=3D2>
  
Chris,   but would then, diamond on diamond be the best of=20=
all?=20
  
  
 
  
Not knowing how I might do this, but I have many carbide tipped saw=20
  blades. I have never looked too closely at one tooth, but they have a=
=20
  point and some flat surfaces. If I could get some of these teeth off,=
 or=20
  get replacement teeth from the people who resharpen my blades, would these=
 be=20
  good pivots surfaces? Say one tooth point resting on one tooth flat=20
  side.  (arranged in a set of two) pivots for a vertical=20
  pendulum?   Thanks, Ted

Hi Ted,
 
    You can get elliptical diamond tips for so=
und=20
cartridges, but they won't take much load. But you could probably use them a=
s=20
miniature cylinders? Also sapphire tips, but they are very small. I think th=
at=20
you can in principle buy sapphire balls, cylinders and flats, but I don't ha=
ve a=20
source. They are all manufactured.
 
    What on earth do you want saw tooth blades for?=
=20
Knife edge and true point suspensions don't work well or for long. Forg=
et=20
them.
    If you have a really sharp edge or a point and=20=
put=20
a significant load on it, you will exceed the strength of the edge / tip=20
material FOR CERTAIN. The edge may 1) roll over 2) compress 3) chip / shatte=
r 4)=20
dig into the counterface. This is GUARANTEED eventual FAILURE, probably soon=
er=20
rather than later and it is really dumb.
    The so called 'knife edge bearings' used on=20
chemical balances have the edge lapped to give a tiny half cylinder, with a=20=
max=20
load of maybe 200 gm only. Any more and they shatter.
 
    Rolling spheres and rolling cylinders both work=
=20
fine.
 
    Have a look at www.smallparts.com ?
 
    You can use Martensitic SS ball bearings. They=20=
are=20
cheap.
    You can also get Tungsten Carbide Balls. B=
IC=20
pens also use 1 mm ones.
 
    You can buy Martensitic Stainless Steel rod in=20=
a=20
wide range of sizes. It is cheap.
    You can buy Tungsten Carbide needle bearings.
    You can buy Tungsten Carbide drills and use the=
=20
shanks, ordinary drill form or 1/8" // shank types.
 
    For flats, you can buy Martensitic Stainless St=
eel=20
sheet. It is cheap.
    You can buy solid triangular Tungsten Carbide t=
ool=20
tips for lathe tools.
    You can buy Tungsten Carbide scraper blades, ba=
r=20
shaped or trianglar.
    You can buy Tungsten Carbide cutter blades for=20
electric planes.
 
    You can buy diamond and corundum paste for lapp=
ing=20
and polishing surfaces, which you can do with sheet copper.
 
    Has anyone else out there found any other=20
sources?
 
    Regards,
 
    Chris=20
Chapman