There are a variety of cab machines on the market. Diamond Pacific is well a known manufacturer of lapidary equipment, and in the class I took, we used a machine that had six diamond wheels. Each wheel has a different job. First, the stone on the dop is held against the first wheel so the ends are rounded off. As you progress from wheel to wheel, the cab is shaped and then finally polished. The time it takes to cut and polish a cab depends on the harness of the stone.
Once the cab is finished, we set ours in a freezer for a few moments. This allowed the dop to be easily pried off the stone.
By taking this class, I not only learned how a cabochon was made, but I also learned how to select better cabs when I purchase them for my jewelry making. This experience also gave me a better appreciation for the lapidary arts.
