Experimental investigation on granite cutting by means of diamond frame saw

A series of sawing experiments on granite was carried out to explore the cutting performance of a diamond frame saw with the horizontal reciprocating cutting mode. A model of the average thickness of the cutting chip was established and the characteristics of cutting forces were analyzed. The wear mechanism of segments was revealed by analyzing the width of the saw kerf and the wear morphology of the diamond segments. The results demonstrated that the wear resistance and the cutting forces increased with the feed speed. The cutting forces changed abruptly at the reversing point during granite cutting. Meanwhile, the proportion of macro-fractured and pulled-out diamond particles and the mean wear rate of segments increased with the feed speed, and the mean protrusion height of diamond particles was less than 100 μm. The width of the saw kerf reduced gradually during the sawing progress, forming a cone that is wide at the top and narrow at the bottom. Furthermore, the investigations proved that the wear of the segments remains consistent in two directions (y, z). An increasingly apparent phenomenon of protruding diamond particles appears on the side surface of the segment with the increase of feed speed. The research can provide certain data support for granite cutting and lay the foundation for the subsequent optimization of the equipment.