Stephen Adams worked at Suncrest and USSynthetic from 1998-2014, taking on increasing responsibilities over time. Some of his accomplishments included fabricating custom machinery to improve efficiency, developing solutions to reduce costs and waste, receiving lean training, experimenting with materials under extreme conditions, and eventually managing the Suncrest lab. He designed and tested new diamond press designs, observed manipulation of materials at the nano-scale, and conducted experiments to improve cutter performance and properties.

1. 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 2012
Today
Increased
responsibilities
Cube variations
Superconductor
experiments
Cobalt manipulation
High pressure cell
T.C. Solution
Pressure medium
solution
Lean training
Dpop MI 1014b
Cube catcher
Breaker stationWater delivery
Suncrest
Press
S.R.
Layoff
Centerless grinding
Stephen Adams USSynthetic/Suncrest employment timeline
Employment begins- Referred by Bob Johnson.
Water delivery- Fabricated a custom coolant delivery system for super-tec machines increasing delivery and comfort for operator.
Breaker station- Fabricated a mobile, all-metal, breaking station reducing noise with increased durability.
Cube catcher- Welded plastic components to create a “cube catcher” to reduce end of shift clean up.
Dpop MI 1014b- Consulted on Dpop prevention solution that resulted in MI 1014b.
Lean training- Received lean training from Terry Davis.
Pressure medium solution- Created alternative hBN pressure medium increasing process value and decreasing per part cost by 2000%
T.C. Solution- Added components to cell allowing T.C. readings to be referenced at high temperatures.
High pressure cell- Started work on high pressure cell. Employee disclosure 787.
Cutter component manipulation- First observations of PCD manipulation in with Suncrest cell. Patent pending.
Superconductor experiments- Experimented with oxides and cuprates under HPHT conditions to observe super-conducting properties.
Cube variations- Design, tested, and ran, various cube designs to accommodate oversize stones.
Increased responsibilities- Assumed sole responsibility for R+D and production efforts at Suncrest.
TSP- Began a series of experiments to improve the thermal stability of PCD cutters.
Suncrest Lab Manger- Assumed responsibilities for management of Suncrest service.
TSP workEmployment begins
Suncrest Lab
Manager
2014