Diamond Tools in Stone and Civil Engineering Industry: Cutting Principles, Wear and Applications

Metal-bonded diamond tools have been introduced to the processing of natural stone and in civil engineering applications about a few decades ago. They have without any doubt revolutionised the whole sector by allowing dramatically increased material removal rates. But, although significant improvements in tool performance were made since the early days, diamond tools are still the main factor for cost effectiveness. For this reason it is of decisive importance to have a detailed knowledge about the cutting principles and wear performance. Only by these basics it is possible to find optimum process parameters and to evaluate the effects on the diamonds during the process. Therefore the prediction of suitable processing conditions can be determined. This paper will give an overview of process principles and its relevance for tool and design. In respect of the applications in the stone and civil engineering industry some trends will be outlined. Diamond tools are governing cutting processes in the natural stone industry and in similar fields of application. One of the most widespread processes is the so-called "sawing" that is applied in the natural stone field but as well in civil engineering. For this reason all following chapters refer to the conditions of using circular tools. But also, all main aspects hold true for other processes in this field when diamonds are involved.