Design and Fabrication of a Cost Effective Lab Rock Cutting and Polishing Machine

Abstract

To meet some testing specifications, rock samples taken from an in-situ rock mass must be cored and polished into standard sizes. The sample length, smoothness, diameter, and thickness are examples of such specifications. All of these specifications have an impact on the test result and the achievement of the test goal. As a result, rock polishing and cutting operations are required in the laboratory to prepare and work on various types of samples. Most of the time, these machines are built differently, which is efficient but costly, rigorous, and takes volume and shape in the laboratory. A specimen-cutting and polishing machine was designed and built to help researchers obtain mineral/rock specimens for strength testing. This machine is made up of an electric motor, a diamond cutting disc, and an electric pump for water cooling. To convert electrical energy into mechanical energy, a 1.15KW electric motor was used. A central electrical distribution grid provides alternating current to an electrical motor. The designed machine used a 380V, 50Hz electric motor with a rotating speed of 1.83 m/min and a torque of 109.38 KN. The cutting machine was designed and built to cut and polish different materials in order to obtain specimens for strength tests and structure inspection.