Madencilik, vol.52, no.1, pp.35-45, 2013 (Scopus)
Block cutter STs are commonly used in obtaining strips from natural stone blocks. Especially, in stone processing plants in which blocks are commonly cut with block cutter STs, one of the most important cost factors is the cost of energy. Energy consumption values are important indicators of sawing efficiency and performance. For correct evaluation of all the sawing stages, it is necessary to understand and evaluate the energy consumption stages. In the present study, the electric energy consumption in the stone cutting processes with the block cutter STs was investigated in detail. For this purpose, in different natural stone processing plants, a power analyzer was placed in the transmission line giving energy to the vertical saw blade in the electric panel of block cutter STs functioning in different cutting conditions. The electrical data were recorded in the preparation and during cutting with different feed rates and cutting depths. The data revealed that the energy consumption values varied in three different regions for all the measurements during the cutting process. As a result of the analysis and examination of the data obtained, a general model curve was suggested regarding the electric energy consumption for marble cutting processes with block cutter STs.