Stone And Tiles Cutting by Karolin Machine Tool Private Limited (kmt Waterjet)

Cutting stone and tiles

In this area, the most commonly cut materials are concrete, granite, marble, sandstone and tiles. Waterjet cutting is the ideal method for the production of inlays and company logos or the cutting of floor and wall covering elements. It opens up a whole new field for creative designs and solutions. As the cutting gap width is minimal, no material is wasted. The technology is also very suitable for the cutting of combined materials, for example inlays in stone and metal or combinations of tiles and glass.
As stone and tiles have a low ductility, we recommend producing the first hole with a reduced cutting pressure of 800 bar. This minises the risk of chipping and cracking. For sandstone, the amount of abrasive can be reduced, as the loosened stone particles serve as a natural abrasive.

The key advantages of cutting stone with waterjet are:

• No or only minimal need for reworking of the cutting edge
• No waste of material
• No dust production (in contrast to cutting disc)
• No need for re-sharpening the tool

How fast can the material be cut?
The cutting speed is determined by the following factors: pump pressure, efficiency of high pressure generation and cutting head configuration, material thickness and properties, desired cutting edge quality, orifice diameter, abrasive quantity and abrasive quality. See also cutting speed table below.

What is the maximum material thickness that can be cut with waterjets?
From a thickness of approx. 25 cm, we recommend considering whether cutting with a cutting disc would be a more cost-effective alternative.