The Crystalite arbor is a motorised spindle-and-wheel assembly manufactured by Crystalite Corporation, an American lapidary equipment supplier with several decades of continuous production behind it. Designed as the mechanical heart of a cabbing machine, the arbor carries a horizontal shaft onto which a sequence of grinding wheels and polishing buffs — arranged in graduated grits — are mounted, allowing a lapidary to rough-shape, refine, and finish a cabochon without changing machines. The system is widely used in hobby workshops and small professional studios throughout North America and has earned a reputation for robust, low-maintenance construction.

Mechanical Design

A Crystalite arbor typically presents a series of wheel positions along a single driven shaft, each position accepting wheels of a standardised bore diameter. The sequence conventionally runs from coarse material removal through to final polish: a coarse silicon carbide or diamond wheel for initial shaping, one or more intermediate diamond wheels for refining the dome profile, a fine-grit wheel for pre-polish, and a leather, felt, or composite buff charged with polishing compound for the final surface. Water drip or mist cooling is standard, protecting both the stone and the wheel bond from heat build-up.

Crystalite's wheels are available in both silicon carbide (bonded abrasive) and electroplated or resin-bond diamond formulations. Diamond wheels, though more expensive at the outset, cut harder materials — corundum, chrysoberyl, jadeite — with considerably greater efficiency and longer service life than silicon carbide equivalents, and have become the default choice for most contemporary lapidaries working with gem-grade rough.

Compatibility and Accessories

One of the practical advantages frequently cited by working lapidaries is the arbor's compatibility with third-party wheels and buffs that share the same bore and arbor-flange dimensions. This means a Crystalite arbor can accept wheels from other manufacturers, and vice versa, giving the operator flexibility in sourcing consumables. Standard wheel diameters in the Crystalite range are typically six or eight inches, matching the most common sizes offered across the lapidary industry.

The arbor unit is generally sold either as a standalone assembly — to be mounted on a bench or integrated into a custom cabinet — or as part of a complete cabbing machine that includes the motor, splash guards, water supply, and drip tray as a single unit. The standalone format appeals to experienced lapidaries who prefer to configure their own workstation layout.

Place in the Workshop

Within the broader category of cabbing machines, the Crystalite arbor occupies a middle ground between entry-level all-in-one units aimed at beginners and the more elaborate multi-head trim-saw-and-grinder combinations used in higher-volume production. Its straightforward mechanics — a direct-drive or belt-drive motor, a sealed or shielded bearing set, and a simple wheel-retention system — mean that maintenance is within the competence of most hobbyists, and replacement parts have historically remained available through the manufacturer's dealer network.

The related Genie-style machines and the Graves arbor systems represent comparable approaches from competing manufacturers, while the Crystalite arbor is sometimes compared in trade discussions with the Gallant arbor, another American-made unit sharing broadly similar design principles. Each has its partisans, and the choice between them frequently comes down to local dealer support and personal familiarity rather than any decisive technical superiority.

In the Trade

Crystalite Corporation also produces a range of complementary lapidary products — trim saws, faceting laps, and sphere-grinding equipment — which has helped sustain the arbor's market presence: lapidaries who begin with a Crystalite wheel tend to remain within the brand's ecosystem. Used Crystalite arbors appear regularly at gem and mineral shows and through lapidary club sales, often still serviceable after many years of use, which is itself a testament to the durability of the design.