Stonecutting apparatus and method using saw and water jet

Abstract

An apparatus for cutting stone which utilizes both a circular saw and a water jet. Both the saw and the water jet are mounted on a gantry, which moves along tracks. All the parts are under the control of the CNC device. The saw is used for straight cuts and curves where possible. The water jet, which is slower and more expensive to operate is only used where the saw cannot be used. The water jet is used to finish a saw cut to avoid any overtravel.

1 . An apparatus for cutting hard material, comprising: 
 a saw;    a water jet;    a support for holding and independently moving said saw and said water jet;    a control for separately controlling movement of said saw and said water jet.    
   
   
       2 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein said control is a CNC control.  
   
   
       3 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the saw is a fully articulating circular saw.  
   
   
       4 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the support is a traveling gantry on which said water jet and said saw are mounted, said water jet and said saw moving along the longitudinal direction of the gantry; 
 said gantry being mounted on fixed tracks with said gantry moving along said tracks and transverse to the longitudinal direction of the gantry.    
   
   
       5 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising a tank mounted below said saw and said water jet for receiving residue, said tank including a support grating on which said material is placed.  
   
   
       6 . The apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein the CNC receives electronic templates of parts to be cut and assigns various cuts to said saw and said water jet.  
   
   
       7 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein said saw is stopped by said CNC before the end of a straight cut to prevent overtravel.  
   
   
       8 . The apparatus according to  claim 7 , wherein said waterjet finishes said straight cut.  
   
   
       9 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein said material is supported by a grating which passes water and residue without fouling a blade of said saw.  
   
   
       10 . A method for cutting hard material, comprising the steps of: 
 providing a saw and a water jet on a movable support over said hard material;    introducing an electric template of desired parts to be cut from said material;    controlling said saw and said water jet to move and cut said hard material under control of said CNC.    
   
   
       11 . A method according to  claim 10 , wherein the CNC assigns cuts to said saw and water jet so as to maximize efficiency.  
   
   
       12 . A method according to  claim 11 , wherein the saw is stopped before the end of a straight cut to prevent overtravel and said water jet finishes said straight cut.  
   
   
       13 . A method according to  claim 10 , wherein the CNC optimizes machine motion to minimize maintenance, consumables, and operating time of the water jet.