Apparatus and methods for gemstone and mineral sphere grinding and polishing

An apparatus for forming a generally spherical object from a workpiece, comprising:

• a mounting hub;
• at least two surface treating modules coupled to the mounting hub, each surface treating module including:
• a frame including a laterally-projecting elongated member;
• a support member slideably engaged with the elongated member;
• a motor coupled to the support member and pivotably suspended below the elongated member, the motor including a shaft projecting therefrom;
• and
• a surface treating member attached to the shaft and adapted to engage the workpiece.

An apparatus for forming a generally spherical object from a workpiece, comprising:

• a frame;
• a motor coupled to the frame, the motor including a shaft projecting therefrom;
• a surface treating member attached to the shaft and adapted to engage the workpiece;
• and
• an abrasive delivery system coupled to the frame and adapted to deliver an abrasive proximate the surface treating member, the abrasive delivery system including a support structure coupled to the frame;
• an abrasive feed device coupled to the support structure;
• and
• an abrasive container removeably coupled to the support structure and to the abrasive feed device, the abrasive container being removeable without disassembly of the support structure and the abrasive feed device.

The method of forming a generally spherical object from a workpiece, comprising:

• providing at least one laterally-projecting elongated member;
• pivotally suspending at least one surface treating mechanism below the at least one elongated member, the surface treating mechanism including a surface treating member;
• rotating the surface treating member;
• and
• employing a gravitational force to bias the surface treating member into engagement with the workpiece.