Development of low cost gemstone polishing cum cutting machine

Abstract

Ethiopia has many types of natural resources that can be exported and brought high foreign currency; which can help to improve the financial status of this country. However; one of these resources is gemstone minerals, which is mostly preferred for jewelry purpose globally; due to its unique attraction, properties and natural behavior. Moreover; very expensive gemstone like opals, emerald, ruby, sapphire, etc. are available in this country in a huge quantity. However; these natural resources exported in raw form without post processing to the other developed countries to bring high foreign currency. Nevertheless; due the export presently we are not getting good returns on this export. By considering this fact gemstones processing jobs has been started in Amhara region of Ethiopia to add values and to increase the selling price of it. Hence present study focuses on the “Development of low cost Gemstone polishing cum cutting machine for further value addition of gemstone mineral. Mostly the available machines for gemstone processing globally are very expensive; therefore in the present study the efforts are taken to use the indigenous materials as alternatives to develop the low cost gemstone processing technology. This development work endorsed the dramatic cost reduction of the machine imported from abroad by saving more than 50% total cost.