Faceter's Math Programs!
These are calculator-like PC computer software utilities for solving an extensive range of math challenges faced by the modern gemcutter. Click any Utility title to download a zipped file, or download the entire set, (approximately 500 K.)
YIELD--this utility will ask for the dimensions of a piece of rough, compare them to your intended cut and then tell you what kind of yield percentage for that particular cut you might expect.
TANGENT--ever see written instructions for quartz and you want to change the angles so you can cut for topaz. This utility solves the Tangent Ratio method for you quickly and simply.
SNELL.--When a light ray enters a gem material, the ray bends according to the type of gemstone material. This program calculates how much entering and exiting rays bend.
SPEED--You have a certain diameter pulley turning at a certain RPM (or SFPM) and you want to know the effect on a different diameter and how fast it’ll turn. This utility solves that question.
GOLDEN--You’ve heard of the Golden Ratio developed in Ancient Greece, a ratio often described as the most pleasing, esthetic proportions in design. This utility solves for any dimensions.
NEWCUT--Want to draw your own design on a computer. This paint program, faster and easier (it really isn't all that easy!) than GEMCAD, enables you to design and draw precise, accurate drawings of your work.
TEMP --Need to convert Celsius temperature to Fahrenheit temperature or vice versa. This program does the job in a fraction of a second.
FRESNEL--when light rays strike a gem surface, Fresnel’s Law dictates how many rays are reflected. This utility will give you the precise percentage reflectivity of every popular gem type.
RESHAPE.--Unexpectedly, you’ve run out of material thickness for the crown. This utility does the correct math for figuring new crown angles that salvage the original plan design.
WEIGHT--a carat weight scale is nice but this utility will carefully and quickly calculate the carat weight (and almost all other kinds of weight) of a cut gem from the measurements that you provide.
CRITICAL ANGLE --if you know the Refractive Index for any gem type, feed it to this utility and you’ll immediately get the Critical Angle, helpful for figuring out angles.
ANGLES --what’s the best combination of angles for any gem type. This utility offers you the results of a whole series of sophisticated math approaches for computing best angle.
ANIMATE--this is a short animation that visualizes the shape of a round brilliant silhouette through several different crown-pavilion angle combinations.
CONVERT--this utility quickly converts nearly any length or weight statement into another scale reference i.e., carats to grams to grains, mm to inches, etc.
GEARS--if a diagram is written for one specific index gear and you wish to perform the cut using another index gear, this utility will convert the index instructions into any other gear, even those with a different symmetry.
APEXES--when you want more than a flat table, try apex crown facets. This formula will figure out the math for producing the optimum angle for those famous apex facets.