Evaluation of rock cutting performance of diamond segmented frame saw in terms of diamond segment wear

Abstract

Diamond segmented frame saws are used to produce slab from natural stone blocks in stone processing plants. Diamond segments welded on flat steel blades are utilized for rock block cutting in frame saws. Segment wear (SW) affects cutting performance. Physical and mechanical rock properties and advance rate (AR) play a significant role in SW. Therefore, the relationship between SW, AR, and rock properties should be determined to achieve effective cutting. Low SW and high AR yield the most effective cutting. This study employed marble blocks cut in a large-scale diamond segmented frame saw to determine diamond SW and AR for each cutting process to determine the effects of physical and mechanical rock properties and AR on diamond SW. Advance rate, tensile and impact strengths, Shore hardness, modulus of elasticity, and block weight were used to develop a prediction model for SW. For SW, this study proposed an AR-based prediction chart that can be used to provide effective cutting conditions (lowest SW and highest AR) in diamond segmented frame saws.