The invention provides a block splitter assembly comprising first lower and second upper opposed splitter blade assemblies. The splitter blade assemblies have a splitting blade and two or more first forming blades. One forming blade is disposed to the right of and one forming blade is disposed to the left of the first splitting blade. The forming blades have forming edges. The splitting blade has a splitting edge that is straight, and the splitting blade has a greater maximum vertical dimension than the maximum vertical dimension of the forming blades. The splitting edge of the first splitting blade is opposed to the splitting edge of the second splitting blade.

A dual work table, slab processing machine includes first and second work tables, a 5-axis machining head and at least one drive mechanism that drives the machining head along a frame over a slab processing area. The machining head mounts a circular saw blade, a finger bit or at least one finishing tool for respective cutting, routing or finishing of stone or stone-like slabs positioned on the first and second work tables upside down with a finished face down on vacuum pods. A controller positions a first slab upside down with the finished face down and operates the 5-axis machining head to cut, rout and finish the first slab on the first work table, and align a second slab upside down with the finished face down on vacuum pods positioned on the second work table for subsequent cutting, routing and finishing of the second slab.

A method and system for removing mortar from a plurality of joints between a plurality of masonry units in a masonry structure is provided. The steps for accomplishing the method include identifying the location of at least one of the plurality of joints between the plurality of masonry units and positioning a work tool capable of adjustability of at least one of pitch, roll, yaw, elevation, and cutting depth. Locking at least one of the adjustable attributes and advancing the work tool along the joint to remove mortar.

A method and system for removing mortar from a plurality of joints between a plurality of masonry units in a masonry structure is provided. The steps for accomplishing the method include identifying the location of at least one of the plurality of joints between the plurality of masonry units and positioning a work tool capable of adjustability of at least one of pitch, roll, yaw, elevation, and cutting depth. Locking at least one of the adjustable attributes and advancing the work tool along the joint to remove mortar.

A masonry block that is produced from a workpiece that is split in a block splitting assembly which uses any of a variety of projections to supplement or replace the action of the splitting blade in splitting and dressing the workpiece. The resulting masonry block has features that provide the masonry block with a weathered appearance.

A multifunction masonry tool includes a handle adapted to be held firmly in the grip of one hand. The handle is a polygonal solid, with for example four sides arrayed in generally rectangular or square cross-sectional arrangement. A narrow neck is disposed adjacent to a first end of the handle to enhance the grip of the thumb and forefinger. A loop extends from one end of the handle and a pick extends from the opposed end, both formed of a hardened, form-retaining rod material. The pick and loop may be formed from a single piece of the rod material that extends axially through the handle.

A handheld hydraulic-powered concrete-cutting handsaw is provided including a base. A blade guard may be provided on the base. A hydraulic blade motor may be provided on the blade guard. A sawblade may be drivingly engaged for rotation by the blade motor. A front handle and a rear handle may be removably attached to the blade guard and/or base. The handsaw can further include a removable slurry guard. A coolant manifold may be provided on the blade guard. A coolant flow control valve may be confluently connected to the coolant manifold. A coolant supply line may be confluently connected to the coolant flow control valve. A pair of coolant discharge lines may be confluently connected to the coolant manifold and discharge at opposite sides of the sawblade.

A system for performing interactions within a physical environment including a robot base, a robot base actuator that moves the robot base relative to the environment, a robot arm mounted to the robot base, the robot arm including an end effector mounted thereon and a tracking system that measures a robot base position indicative of a position of the robot base relative to the environment. A control system acquires an indication of end effector destinations, determines a robot base position, calculates a robot base path extending from the robot base position in accordance with the end effector destinations to allow continuous movement of the robot base along the robot base path in accordance with a defined robot base path velocity profile and uses the robot base path to cause the robot base to be moved along the robot base path in accordance with the robot base path velocity profile.

A working head for a cutting machine having a frame, and a cutting disc assembly supported by the frame. The cutting disc assembly having a cutting disc and a first driver rotatably moving the cutting disc around an axis of rotation of the cutting disc. A milling cutter assembly is supported by the frame. The milling cutter assembly has a milling cutter and a second driver that rotatably moves the cutting disc around an axis of rotation of the cutter.

This patent describes a new type of decorative cladding, consisting of an assembly whose main element is a translucent natural stone sheet (LR), interposed by polarized films (PP) which, when subjected to a light source (FL), show optical phenomena in the minerals contained in the sheet, providing the observer with unusual colors, effects and textures. It includes a thinning device (DDD) which is equipped with conveyor belts (EST); equipped with a plurality of horizontal skids (PAH), preferably with a flap, fixed below the belt (EST), helping to support the support grid (PS); and is equipped with a plurality of thinning modules (MD), responsible for producing the aforementioned sheets of translucent natural stone.