The performance measurement results of stone cutting machines and their relations with some material properties

Abstract

This paper presents the results of ST cutting machine performance measurements conducted at four different stone processing plants. The cutting performances of ST machines for five different stone units had been determined by measuring the hourly production (m(2)/hr), energy consumption (kWh), rotational speed (rpm) and downtime. Some material properties of studied stone units had been determined in the rock mechanics laboratory. Among the performance parameters, the specific cutting energy which embodies both cutting time, power and amount of production was determined as the most reflective cuttability parameter. It was also very closely related to stone material properties. Good correlations have been established between specific cutting energy and material properties, such as uniaxial compressive strength, indirect tensile strength, hardness and elastic modules.