Energy Efficiency in Natural Stone Cutting Process

The aim of this experimental study was to reduce electric energy consumption in marble cutting operation. We designed a prototype circular saw block cutting machine for marble cutting experiments. Fully computer-controlled this experimental set-up has a LabVIEW based data acquisition and control system. In this study, manual and automatic cutting experiments were performed for three natural rocks (Cankiri beige and Afyon white marble and Denizli travertine). In experiments, travel speed is kept fixed in manual mode as usual in industry. Travel speed is controlled in automatic mode during the cutting process. Travel speed is controlled depending on specific energy. It is observed that, if automatic cutting is performed, electric energy saving can be provided in all of three rocks. Though energy saving is provided in all of three rocks, the best energy saving is provided in Cankiri beige marble.