Experimental and statistical analysis of cutting force acting on diamond sawblade in sawing of granitic rocks

In this study, sawability analyses of granitic rocks were carried out using segmented circular diamond sawblades. In the experimentations, a computer controlled cutting machine was used and the experiments were performed with the same-direction cutting mode. Effects and contribution of each operating variable (the peripheral speed, workpiece traverse speed, cutting depth and flowrate of cooling fluid) on the cutting force were determined and cutting forces were correlated with rock properties. Moreover, models were built depending on the operating variables and the rock properties (physico-mechanical and mineralogical properties) for the estimation of cutting force. The results indicated that the higher cutting forces were obtained for higher cutting depth and traverse speed and for lower peripheral speed and flowrate of cooling fluid. The most significant operating variable affecting the cutting force was determined as cutting depth. It was concluded that rather than the physico-mechanical properties, mineralogical properties (such as quarts, plagioclase and feldspar content) is the dominant rock properties affecting the cutting force. Results also revealed that the predictive models derived from operating variables and materials properties have high potentials for practical applications.