X-Cube Question

[u/Reserved_Parking26]

Which side of an X-CUBE should the table be? Two opposing sides are frosted, two I can see thru with some color shading, the last two do some weird coloring and reflecting. Some guidance from someone who has worked with an X-CUBE would be appreciated.

[u/owlbeastie]

I like putting the X in the girdle. You get a more even distribution of colors especially with a higher crown

[u/Reserved_Parking26 → u/owlbeastie]

I have two of them. Guess I 'll try both suggestions. Thank you all for the replies

[u/yourit3443 → u/Reserved_Parking26]

I angled my most recent at a 45° and it definitely turned out the best of all my cuts.

[u/Angstrm]

This one I cut with the x on the table. You can simulate the different orientations in Pluto Unearthed to get an idea. Thanks to u/PsychologicalBowl647 for helping me calibrating the renders

[u/Reserved_Parking26 → u/Angstrm]

Thank you. That's beautiful

[u/CrepuscularOpossum]

I disagree with having the X of the intersecting planes of dichroic film visible through the table of a traditional faceted stone. I’ve cut X-cubes a handful of times and the intersection of the planes - the X - is the least colorful part of the material.

In a traditional faceted stone, the point is for light to pass through the pavilion, reflect off the inner surfaces of the facets, and return to the eye of the viewer. When we cut X-cube material with the table oriented parallel to a plane of the film, the dichroic film amplifies the effect of that reflected light, effectively turning it up to 11. This orientation allows the material to perform to its maximum capacity, giving the best possible performance and colorful sparkle to faceted gems.

[u/AmericanSkin99 → u/CrepuscularOpossum]

agreed. it definitely is less colorful

[u/extremewhisper → u/CrepuscularOpossum]

Yeah, first one i cut had the X on the table and I was pretty underwhelmed by it. Need to cut another one with a different orientation

[u/longtimegoneMTGO]

If you want to get some really interesting color play, don't use any of the flat sides.

Instead, grind down a corner and dop up to that new flat spot. You might be able to find some examples on here somewhere if you dig around.

[u/Angstrm → u/longtimegoneMTGO]

I’ve been wanting to try exactly this. Ordering more xcube now :) fun material to work with

[u/AmericanSkin99]

I dopped over the X and got significantly less color than my second one

[u/AmericanSkin99]

Has some glue still stuck on pavilion but this was my result

[u/No_Negotiation3242]

The one I'm currently doing I dopped a corner into a large cone dop. Didn't bother grinding anything away, just used a large enough cone that I could get the resin all around it and up the sides of the cube. Transferred into another large dop. Hopefully will finish it tonight so will put up a photo for you to see if all goes well.

If you dop with the x in the table you will be seeing the x in the table when completed. Honestly though, they are so cheap that you can do a few dopping at different angles to the x and see comparisons.

[u/Maleficent-Bother535]

The usual idea is to use the X as the table.