Cutting force and diamond tool wear in stone machining

Stone machining by diamond tool is a widespread process to manufacture both standard products, such as tiles, slabs, kerbs, and so on, and design shapes. Cutting force and energy may be used to monitor stone machining. Empirical models are required to guide the selection of cutting conditions. In this paper, the effects of cutting conditions on cutting force and cutting energy are related to the shape of the idealized chip thickness. These effects are put into relationship with the diamond tool wear too. The empirical models developed in this paper can be used to predict the variation of the cutting energy. Therefore these models can be used to guide the selection of cutting conditions and to predict when it is needed to change the tool. The chip generation and removal process has been quantified with the intention of assisting both the toolmaker and the stonemason in optimizing the tool composition and cutting process parameters, respectively.