Crack off machine.

[VertigoGlass]

I am thinking about building a crack off machine. I have seen a couple in person and the fab side of it would be cake work for me. I am wondering about the hydrogen torch that goes inside the tube and also the diamond bitthey use to score it, i assume its the same type of diamond bit that is used to dress grinding wheels. I dont want to pay 5-6k for one from a store when i can build all the frame work myself. I alrady have a supply of pillow blocks, steel, pulley, gears and stepper motors. Any info anyone wants to share would be great. thanks.

[Natedizzle]

If you build one for a reasonable price that works... I'll buy one... Been needing one for a minute now!

[colonel4bin]

You don't have to use hydrogen, I've always just used a national torch with a small tip. As for scoring you can use anything that will scratch it, maybe buy a blade for a scoring knife and mount it. I've seen a lot of different crack-off machines and most do the job well.

[HomegrownGlassStudio]

Hydrogen still will always get the best crack off it just gets hotter....

[VertigoGlass]

I don't want to build a machine that is going to go an ok decent or do the job well. I would stick to the method i have now if that was the case. I want the extremely clean precise perfect fire polished ends that a good crack off machine with hydrogen offers.

[Greymatter Glass]

Yeah the diamond would just be any decently mounted industrial diamond. A dressing wheel diamond would be perfect. You could also use a carbide point, less brittle, not as hard... fair trade off as any chatter in the tube might chip your diamond... I'm thinking a slow enough speed and a spring loaded cutter head would be enough to protect the diamond tho.

As for cracking off, the ones I have seen have the torches cross fired on the outside of the tube with an electric spark ignition... dunno if there would be an easy way to get it inside..... but it makes sense to do it that way.... seems like it would take longer to load the tubes, since you have to slide them off, not just lift out... *shrug*

Would love to see pictures of the build process if you get started on it!

-Doug

[Riley]

graffix had one they never used. it had the a single port torch that ran hydrogen. it had a long metal feed line that ran inside the tube. then it was just basically a couple sets of rollers with a motorized roller set to keep it going around. i'd imagine it would have had to have a sparker.

i'm not sure if you'd need the torch mounted inside, but maybe affects the overall performance ? anyhow, i didn't get a good study of their machine and i'd love to see what you come up with.

[nicko0]

diamond scribes arent too expensive. they can make that single smooth scratch

the tube torch that goes inside i think just has six tiny holes drilled radially in the end. premix.

[Flaming Balls]

Saw kimbles crackoff machine up close n personal. It had external torch n used water n just scored it in a small maybe 1" spot worked really nice

[Greymatter Glass]

yeah that'ss the style I've seen.... (external, water, short scribe)

The only way to light an internal torch would be an electronic ignition, or to flood the tube with the gas/air mixture, ignite one end, and let it propagate to the torch tips... would make one hell of a pop!

I've always wondered is a hot wire cutter would work on heavy wall tube.... I have the parts to make one, just haven't done it (yet).

[nicko0]

i think you just leave the torch on and just slide it in and out

[Adkins]

Are you still looking at building a crack-off machine because im selling one that is a crack-off and at other end is set up to make mouth pieces

[Riley]

i'm interested. maybe you could start a glassifieds ad, and drop some pics and a price so we can see whatcha working with.

[Adkins]

We have one going out tomorrow so ill post picture with this one you can cut glass and make mouth peice at the same time but with two people on one machine . That one goes for $3500

[mindblowingglass]

The new "jaws" mike will be releasing will make a cut off machine obsolete.

[boxfan willy]

booo to the thread jack! Inappropriate...

I am def interested in the crack off machine

boxfanwilly@gmail.com

[Adkins]

here is a picturehttp://i1111.photobucket.com/albums/h471/Adkinsperformance1/54cc6714.jpg?t=1295153296

[hwcglass]

I sure wish I had any idea what that thing does.

I know it's not worth time educating a non buyer but I really want to know.

Videos? Pics in action? Pics finished glass?

[bc]

booo to the thread jack! Inappropriate...

I am def interested in the crack off machine

boxfanwilly@gmail.com

repped.

[smolder holder]

I'm really interested to see how this thing works too.

[mindblowingglass]

My bad

[Greymatter Glass]

I sure wish I had any idea what that thing does.

I know it's not worth time educating a non buyer but I really want to know.

Videos? Pics in action? Pics finished glass?

The arm on top comes down with an industrial diamond and scores the glass tube on the rollers.

The thing that kinda looks like a stick coming in from the right is a small torch and comes on to thermal shock the tube right under the score.

it breaks down larger tube quickly and cleanly.

[cIRclE]

We have one going out tomorrow so ill post picture with this one you can cut glass and make mouth peice at the same time but with two people on one machine . That one goes for $3500


Still for sale?

[zippetmonster]

vertigo, you have any luck building one of these?

[Master Yoda]

I 2nd the lets see a vid motion

[boxfan willy]

http://rimstar.org/materials/piezo/ignitor1.htm

Seems like it would be easy to lengthen the lead on a piezo ingnitor for the interior torch.

Doug approved or dissapproved?

[Greymatter Glass]

Deff approved. Used one of those in my old spud gun

[apixdesign]

I need to make one, any success vertigo? Thanks

[VertigoGlass]

I put this project on the back burner due to the big lathe project. Plan on getting back in this one in the next week or two during down time on the lathe build.

[apixdesign]

I put this project on the back burner due to the big lathe project. Plan on getting back in this one in the next week or two during down time on the lathe build.

Makes sense, lathes looking amazing

[Mobiusray]

I'm am building a crack off machine on Maui. I am curious about this photo. what is the diameter of the shaft you are using for the rollers? Did you use tubing or rod for the roller shaft? Are those belt pullys you are using, and are you going to put a rubber cushion on them ? I used a machines linear slide as a torch mount, so my torch can easily move in and out of the tube. I noticed this torch is fixed, how do you plan to light it after you make the score mark? I'll post pictures of my machine as I finalize the assembly.
Thanks

[Fantasy]

Hi.
Stepper motor on the crack-off like shooting a sparrow with cannon.
Simple gear-motor about $50-60 are than enough.
I made a practical crack-off system than adopt any glass lathe.
Go to YouTube and--> Type "Crack off machine on the glass lathe.
Attila

[Mike_Aurelius]

Why are you spamming this forum with this??? You've got 21 posts and almost every single one of them is a link to your video.

[PyroChixRock]

He's responding to each post. Not used to forum etiquette yet, but his info and intentions are good.

Sent from my HTC 10 using Tapatalk

[Swim]

this guy is fucking awesome and you know it. You should switch up your normal demeanor and make him feel welcome. I just wanna hug this guy he is so awesome. We want him here. I want access to this guy. You post super redundant shit in your own way, but your good for glass and we need you as a resource, so no one is busting your balls over it. Lighten up for once.... you can see he is from a generation that is not social media savvy

[Swim]

LAWD LAWD LAWD, if I came up with that crack off job.... I would make you hate me reposting it also. I wonder if he has made sales....

[Mike_Aurelius]

Okay, but is it *really* necessary to make the exact same post three times in a row? Also in the Safety Forum and a half of dozen other places??

I'm not dissing his product at all, just the redundant repetitive posting.

[Jimi The Don]

He may not know yet that if you click on "new posts" that you see everything
So he may think that he needs to spread his posts around Lyke old semen to get his information stuck to everything
Redundant? Sure. But totally understandable, and that thing is pretty kewl, so I'm okay with redundancy at the beginning of his forum career, plus, it's always nice to see enthusiasm from someone who's passionate about something!!

[Mike_Aurelius]

I totally agree Jimi.

If he's going to sell these, he needs to become a vendor.

[Misfitman]

Keep it up Vertigo! kilnin it... ok that was dumb

[Jimi The Don]

If he's going to sell these, he needs to become a vendor.

Troof.

[PyroChixRock]

He will be added as a vendor soon. Try to politely show him the way.

[Fantasy]

Go to YouTube.
Type in->Crack off Machine on the Glass Lathe.
7 minutes video.
Attila

[Fantasy]

The reason your torch mounted inside, because this way you lost less heat, than the outside torch.
Do not forget, you need a thermal shock. Other cheaper alternative on YouTube. Developed myself.
Crack off Machine on the Glass Lathe. 7 minutes video.
Attila

[Michael]

Completely misunderstood...

[dplaza]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cDD9zZxO7c0

heres the link to the video.

[Fantasy]

Thank you.
Attila

[xiaan]

That thing looks killer