Unit of competency Outline
Date retreived
22/07/2026 1:51 AM AWST
22/07/2026 1:51 AM AWST
Whilst all efforts are made to provide accurate and timely information from the relevant source/documentation, please be aware that the information supplied may not be the most current version. The accuracy of the detail has not been confirmed by the Department and therefore should not be relied upon without first confirming the contents.
Cut opal spheres and beads
Cut opal spheres and beads
Unit of competency
National Code
CUVOPA404A
CUVOPA404A
State Code
S7695
S7695
TGA Status
Deleted
Deleted
DTWD Status
Deleted
Deleted
State Implementation and Classification
Approved Date
06/11/2014
Field of Education
100307 - Jewellery Making
Original Release Date
06/11/2014
Nominal Hours
25
Description
This unit describes the performance outcomes, skills and knowledge required to produce opal spheres and beads, including the selection of the rough opal through to the drilling and final polishing.
Notes
Elements and Performance Criteria
1. Set up machinery and equipment
- 1.1 Set up bead mill, sphere-making equipment and drills to manufacturers’ specifications
- 1.2 Identify the maintenance areas and complete the required maintenance routine
- 1.3 Investigate other methods of making spheres and beads if commercial equipment is not available
2. Select and pre-form material
- 2.1 Select materials suitable for making spheres or beads
- 2.2 Preform opal using saw or grinder to produce required shape
- 2.3 Grind shape corners to establish rounded form
3. Produce opal bead
- 3.1 Fill holder template with pre-formed beads (range of shapes)
- 3.2 Grind pre-formed beads in bead mill using #120 silicon carbide powder until they are rounded
- 3.3 Change the holder template to a small size if necessary
- 3.4 Remove faulty or broken opal from the bead mill
- 3.5 Remove beads from the bead mill and clean
4. Drill beads
- 4.1 Select beads for drilling
- 4.2 Place bead in bead vice, drill half way into the bead, turn over, check alignment and drill the other half ensuring a cut hole through the bead
5. Polish beads
- 5.1 Place cleaned beads in tumble polisher with increasingly fine grinding medium
- 5.2 Clean tumbler and beads at every change over
- 5.3 Clean beads thoroughly after the final grind, place in the tumbler with polishing medium and tumble to a high lustre
- 5.4 Clean finished beads thoroughly with water
6. Produce opal spheres
- 6.1 Select opals to make spheres and pre-form the spheres
- 6.2 Grind the spheres in a sphere maker with water and increasingly fine grinding medium
- 6.3 Clean spheres thoroughly at each change over
- 6.4 Polish cleaned sphere with polishing medium and water using leather sphere cups to desired polish
The range statement relates to the unit of competency as a whole. It allows for different work environments and situations that may affect performance. Bold italicised wording, if used in the performance criteria, is detailed below. Essential operating conditions that may be present with training and assessment (depending on the work situation, needs of the candidate, accessibility of the item, and local industry and regional contexts) may also be included.
Bead mill, sphere making equipment and drills may include:
Arrowhead Gemcraft (USA) Sphere Machine
E & J Adams Lapidary (USA) Sphere Machine
home-made equipment
Mahashi (Japan) Bead Mill
Richardson’s (USA) Sphere Machine.
Maintenance areas may include:
bead mill:
all bearings
all electrics
bead holders and wear factor
bottom rotating disc and wear factor
rubber pad on top rotating disc
sphere makers:
all electrics
assorted sphere cups
polishing pads
reduction boxes.
Materials suitable for making spheres and beads may include:
any opal material, taking into account a yield factor or recovery rate of only 10% to 15% from a given ounce of rough opal
beads of a variety of regular or free form shapes
spheres cut from any opal material, with consideration of yield factor.
Grinding mediums may include:
diamond powder #80 through to #1200
silicon carbide grit #80 through to #1200.
Polishing mediums may include:
cerium or tin oxide
diamond powder #3000 through to #100,000.
Bead mill, sphere making equipment and drills may include:
Arrowhead Gemcraft (USA) Sphere Machine
E & J Adams Lapidary (USA) Sphere Machine
home-made equipment
Mahashi (Japan) Bead Mill
Richardson’s (USA) Sphere Machine.
Maintenance areas may include:
bead mill:
all bearings
all electrics
bead holders and wear factor
bottom rotating disc and wear factor
rubber pad on top rotating disc
sphere makers:
all electrics
assorted sphere cups
polishing pads
reduction boxes.
Materials suitable for making spheres and beads may include:
any opal material, taking into account a yield factor or recovery rate of only 10% to 15% from a given ounce of rough opal
beads of a variety of regular or free form shapes
spheres cut from any opal material, with consideration of yield factor.
Grinding mediums may include:
diamond powder #80 through to #1200
silicon carbide grit #80 through to #1200.
Polishing mediums may include:
cerium or tin oxide
diamond powder #3000 through to #100,000.
The evidence guide provides advice on assessment and must be read in conjunction with the performance criteria, required skills and knowledge, range statement and the Assessment Guidelines for the Training Package.
Overview of assessment
Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit
Evidence of the ability to:
identify and safely use machinery and equipment to cut and polish opal beads and spheres to meet the requirements of industry.
Context of and specific resources for assessment
Assessment must ensure access to:
machinery, equipment and consumables required to produce opal beads and spheres.
Method of assessment
A range of assessment methods should be used to assess practical skills and knowledge. The following examples are appropriate for this unit:
observation of processes and procedures
oral and/or written questioning on underpinning knowledge and skills
evaluation of the finished product
review of portfolios of evidence
review of third-party workplace reports of on-the-job performance by candidate.
Assessment methods should closely reflect workplace demands (e.g. literacy) and the needs of particular groups (e.g. people with disabilities, and people who may have literacy or numeracy difficulties, such as speakers of languages other than English, remote communities and those with interrupted schooling).
Guidance information for assessment
Holistic assessment with other units relevant to the industry sector workplace and job role is recommended.
Overview of assessment
Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit
Evidence of the ability to:
identify and safely use machinery and equipment to cut and polish opal beads and spheres to meet the requirements of industry.
Context of and specific resources for assessment
Assessment must ensure access to:
machinery, equipment and consumables required to produce opal beads and spheres.
Method of assessment
A range of assessment methods should be used to assess practical skills and knowledge. The following examples are appropriate for this unit:
observation of processes and procedures
oral and/or written questioning on underpinning knowledge and skills
evaluation of the finished product
review of portfolios of evidence
review of third-party workplace reports of on-the-job performance by candidate.
Assessment methods should closely reflect workplace demands (e.g. literacy) and the needs of particular groups (e.g. people with disabilities, and people who may have literacy or numeracy difficulties, such as speakers of languages other than English, remote communities and those with interrupted schooling).
Guidance information for assessment
Holistic assessment with other units relevant to the industry sector workplace and job role is recommended.
No information
| State Code | National Code | Title | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| D669 | CUV40611 | Certificate IV in Opal Cutting and Polishing | Qualification |