OT - help... RE: [Rockhounds] Microwave kilns

[Rik Dillen]

This is off topic, but I need someone's help, as I wanted also to reach the URL mentioned below.
Since about 2 months I cannot access any site of Wikipedia, and I cannot find the reason. 
"Internet Explorer cannot display the webpage" etc.
Configuration : bench-top PC, connected via cable to router/modem
- pinging to 91.198.174.2 times out constantly
- no virus or malware found by various protection software (Norton, Housecall etc.)
- this PC, connected at my office : OK for Wiki, at home NOK (meaning IMO that it is not PC-related)
- my wife's portable PC, connected wireless to the same router/modem : OK for Wiki (meaning that IMO it is not a
modem/router problem either)
- my bench-top PC connected via VPN via the same modem/router to our company servers : Wiki OK
- ALL other websites work without any problem with all PC's/configurations
- no connection to whatever Wiki-URL (English, Dutch, Swedish, whatever) with this PC on this modem/router
- all solutions found on the WWW for analogous problems did not solve my specific problem
- and no, Belgium did not ban Wikipedia like China did during some period (at least as far as I know :>)

At first sight all my observations are contradictory, and I don't know anymore where I have to dig.
I would be very glad if someone would help me out.
As this is off topic, I would appreciate reactions/suggestions off list, directly to rik.dillen at skynet.be, unless others
experience the same problem.
Thanks a lot and have a nice week-end.

P.S. - BTW I (or rather my colleagues in the lab) have a lot of experience with micro-wave sample preparation in the
lab, using a CEM-Mars type of microwave oven. If I can assist with something, just let me know. For details see
http://www.cem.com/analytical/technology.asp
BTW, as Bryan already mentioned, such stuff is so expensive that none of us would be able to afford it (order of 15000
to over 25000 USD without accessories)

Greetings,

Rik DILLEN 
Doornstraat 15,  B-9170 Sint-Gillis-Waas 
Belgium 
E-mail rik.dillen at skynet.be 
Homepage : http://users.skynet.be/rik.dillen 
 
MINERANT 2008  -  26-27 April 2008
Bouwcentrum (Antwerp Expo)
Jan Van Rijswijcklaan 191 Antwerpen 
http://www.minerant.org/mka/minerantnl.html 
Mineral collector's page http://www.minerant.org/ 

-----Original Message-----
From: rockhounds-bounces at lists.drizzle.com [mailto:rockhounds-bounces at lists.drizzle.com] On Behalf Of Kreigh Tomaszewski
Sent: Friday, February 15, 2008 2:02 AM
To: Rockhounds at drizzle.com: A mailing list for rock and gem collectors
Subject: Re: [Rockhounds] Microwave kilns

Peter,

The wikipedia article on microwave ovens has some good background info
on the hazards of using microwaves.

	http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microwave_oven

Here is a microwave ceramics kiln good for 2000C

	http://microwaveprocessing.com/kiln.html

Kreigh




Peter Sparks wrote:
> 
> I've been interested in kilns and backyard foundry work for a while, and
> recently a friend mentioned using a microwave to create cubic zirconia,
> and even making diamond coatings with the microwave.  He was really
> interested in knowing "someone that is working on nano deposition (or
> whatever might work) of polymer coatings for surface free energy
> (non-stick)?"
> 
> Well, I'm not going to pursue his question with this group but has
> anyone played with the microwave to make cubic zirconia rough, diamond
> deposition, diamonds, metal casting, stained glass slumping, heat
> treating, ...?  My interest is knowing pitfalls or suggestions for doing
> this kind of work.
> 
> I've included a few links, though I put in the diamond peanut
> butter/briquet as a lark.  If you make any send me some and we'll break
> the diamond monopoly overnight.
> 
> Cubic zirconia
> http://www.geologyrocks.co.uk/tutorials/cubic_zirconia
> 
> Diamond deposition
> http://www.ias.ac.in/pramana/v55/p933/fulltext.pdf
> 
> Briquettes & peanut butter diamonds
> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bWhtkkOYoxo
> http://www.rangeguide.net/diamonds.htm
> 
> Peter Sparks
> zebulon at isr.umich.edu
>

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