In one era When you can get almost anything online, it’s probably not surprising that you can. Buy a diamond making machine It sells for $200,000 on Chinese e-commerce site Alibaba. If you haven’t been paying attention to the diamond industry like I have, you’ll realize that the availability of these machines reflects a continuing trend toward democratizing diamond production. This process began decades ago and continues to evolve.
The history of lab-grown diamonds goes back at least half a century, according to Harvard graduate student Javid Lakha. Comprehensive piece The first successful laboratory-grown diamonds were reported in the 1950s, according to a study published last month in Works in Progress. Lakha explains: Howard Tracy HallA chemist for General Electric, he created the first lab-grown diamond using a high-pressure, high-temperature (HPHT) process that mimics the conditions under which diamonds form in nature.
Since then, diamond manufacturing technology has advanced considerably. Today, there are two main methods for creating lab-grown diamonds: the HPHT process and chemical vapor deposition (CVD). Both types of machines are now Listed on AlibabaPrices start at approx. 200 thousand dollarslike pointed out Engineer John Nagle (named “animated movie“From Hacker News). The CVD machines we found are more expensive. About 450 thousand dollars.
It’s not an easy task
While the idea of buying a diamond making machine from Alibaba may sound intriguing, it’s important to note that operating the machine isn’t as simple as plugging it in and watching diamonds form. According to Lakha’s article, these machines require significant expertise and additional resources to operate effectively.
For HPHT presses, a reliable source of high-quality graphite, a metal catalyst such as iron or cobalt, and a precise temperature and pressure control system are required. CVD machines require a steady supply of methane and hydrogen gas, and the ability to generate and control microwave or hot filaments. Both methods require a diamond seed crystal to start the growth process.
In addition, it requires expertise to manage growth parameters, safely handle potentially hazardous materials and high-pressure equipment, and process the resulting rough diamonds into usable jewelry or industrial components. The machines also use significant amounts of energy and require regular maintenance. These factors may make the process subject to some regulations that are far beyond the scope of this article.
Simply put, while these machines are more readily available than ever, turning them into productive diamond manufacturing operations still requires significant investment in equipment, materials, expertise, and safety measures. But, a man can dream, right?
A huge supply of diamonds
Sometimes comments on Hacker News are worth more than gold (or diamonds), and John Nagle, who developed it, said: Negle’s algorithm To improve the efficiency of TCP/IP networks in the 1980s, I uploaded one This is a response to Lakha’s article. It contains facts and sources about diamonds and is worth passing on to anyone curious about the current state of diamond production.
One notable development came from De Beers, a diamond company known for its dominance in the natural diamond market. Through its R&D operations, The sixth elementThe company is now Can be produced Synthetic diamonds with defect levels in the billionths of a percent. This level of purity goes far beyond what is required for jewelry and enters the realm of high-tech applications. Element Six has demonstrated the potential of large, ultra-pure synthetic diamonds by creating laser-friendly diamond windows up to 10 centimeters wide.
There have been some remarkable breakthroughs in the field of natural diamonds. Nagle points out that the industry has developed an industrial X-ray system to examine rocks before they are crushed, which has helped preserve large diamonds that would otherwise break during extraction. This technology has led to some impressive discoveries, including: 2,492-carat diamond discovered Last month. The sorter for this task is provided by: TomraThe company is known for its high-capacity sorting systems used in recycling and food processing.
