The wear mechanism of the cutters in marble cutting machines

In our country, marble is an industrial raw material of having high commercial potential with an important role both in domestic comsumption and in exporting. One of the greates problem of marble enterprises in the world and in Turkey, is that marble cutters have short life. If they are not used properly in cutting. This increases cost of marble production. Cutter wear is a major factor in determining cutter life which significantly influences the cutting method selected for a given rock type. Prediction of cutt ability requires an understanding of the cutting action and the mode of wear and their interaction with the rock properties. Wear type and degree, cuting rate and life of the cutters depend on many complex interrelated factors. However, the important factors in predicting wear rates which are considered in this study are saw (cutter) design, cutter operating parameters and the characteritics of the cut rock under both laboratory and field conditions. The most important saw design characteristics are saw size, the wideness of cutting, the space between cutters and raw materials which are used in production of cutters (e. g. diamond, tungsten carbide, cobalt and other heavy materials). The operating parameters of marble cutting machine include load on cutter, cutting rate, rotational speed (rpm), spesific energy, cutting depth, engine power, the distance cut and fluid characteristics. The important rock characteristics consist of strength, hardness, abrasiviness, slica and quartz content, mineral type, grain size, grain shape and bond structure. Important loading, accumulated thermal fatigute and impact shock accelarate to the wear of marble cutters. Optimisation of cutter design and operating parameters according to rock type can lead to increased cutting rate, prolonged cutter life and reduced marble production cost.Key Words : Marble, Sawing, Wear, Rock Proporties. I