A machine (12) for working slabs of natural stone, agglomerate or ceramic material comprises: a work bench (14) adapted to receive a slab to be machined; a machining head (16) comprising a spindle (18); and movement means (20) for moving the machining head (16) above the work bench (14). The spindle (18) comprises coupling means (40) which allow a diamond chain tool (42) to be operatively fixed.

A numeric-control work centre can be used for carrying out cutting operations or grinding and/or milling operations on plates of stone, marble, or, in general, natural or synthetic stone material, or ceramic material. The work centre comprises at least one working head movable along at least two mutually orthogonal horizontal axes on a work surface. The work surface includes a rigid supporting board, which defines a first planar supporting surface, and a series of sacrificial elements rigidly connected to the rigid supporting board. The sacrificial elements are arranged in positions spaced apart from each other and define a second supporting surface located at a higher level than the first planar supporting surface, so that a cutting tool coupled to the working head engraves the sacrificial elements, without interfering with the supporting board during a cutting operation on a plate resting on the sacrificial elements, whichever is the path followed by the cutting tool. Between the sacrificial elements there remain free portions of the planar surface of the supporting board, so that they can be removably engaged by one or more blocks for supporting and holding the plate. These blocks project above the sacrificial elements and are adapted to define a third supporting surface, located at a higher level than the second supporting surface, for supporting and holding a plate during a milling or grinding operation on the plate.

A machine for working glass slabs includes a supporting structure, a slab grinding section having grinding heads, a conveyor assembly adapted to move the glass slab, and a slab drilling section having a conveyor adjacent to the conveyor assembly. The slab grinding section has suckers for keeping the glass slab next to a working plane spaced and/or offset with respect to the advancement plane, and a computerized numeric control assembly to perform workings on the glass slab.

A machining centre is disclosed for cutting an object in the form of a slab including a support plane arranged to support the object, a machining unit provided with a cutting tool that is rotatable to cut the object, and with a fluid jet cutting device that is also drivable to cut the object; the machining unit is movable with respect to the support plane along a first axis, a second axis and a third axis of a triad of orthogonal axes to move the cutting tool and the fluid jet cutting device to/from said support plane, the machining unit is further rotatable about a first rotation axis to rotate the cutting tool and the fluid jet cutting device with respect to the support plane; the machining unit is provided with a handling device arranged to support and to move the fluid jet cutting device with respect to the fluid jet cutting device at least along a direction that is transverse to the first axis of rotation.

Provided is a method for preventing metal contamination during cutting of a polycrystalline silicon rod. A method for cutting a polycrystalline silicon rod (S) includes the step of cutting the polycrystalline silicon rod (S) by using a cutting tool (133). The step of cutting includes: delivering a liquid (L1) to a cutting position of the polycrystalline silicon rod (S) through a first nozzle (14); and delivering a liquid (L2) to a surface of the polycrystalline silicon rod (S) through a second nozzle (15).

A self-contained truck-mounted brick laying machine can include a frame that can support packs or pallets of bricks placed on a platform. A transfer robot can pick up and move the brick(s). A carousel can be coaxial with a tower. The carousel can transfer the brick(s) via the tower to an articulated and/or telescoping boom. The bricks can be moved along the boom by, e.g., linearly moving shuttles, to reach a brick laying and adhesive applying head. The brick laying and adhesive applying head can mount to an element of the stick, about an axis which is disposed horizontally. The poise of the brick laying and adhesive applying head about the axis can be adjusted and can be set in use so that the base of a clevis of the robotic arm mounts about a horizontal axis, and the tracker component is disposed uppermost on the brick laying and adhesive applying head. The brick laying and adhesive applying head can apply adhesive to the brick and can have a robot that lays the brick. Vision and laser scanning and tracking systems can be provided to allow the measurement of as-built slabs, bricks, the monitoring and adjustment of the process and the monitoring of safety zones. The first, or any course of bricks can have the bricks pre machined by the router module so that the top of the course is level once laid.

A control system for a base supporting a boom assembly comprises long telescopic boom and telescopic stick. Mounted to the remote end of the stick is an end effector that supports a robot arm that moves a further end effector to manipulate the items. The robot arm has a robot base, and mounted above the robot base is a first target in the form of a position sensor, that provides position coordinates relative to a fixed ground reference. Mounted on the end of the robot arm immediately above the end effector is a second target that provides position coordinates relative to the fixed around reference. The fixed ground reference tracks the sensors and feeds data to the control system to move the stick with slow dynamic response and to control movement of the robotic arm and end effector with fast dynamic response.

Systems and methods are described for finishing slabs. In an exemplary embodiment, a stone-cutting miter saw includes a support fixture that is configured to support a stone slab, a guide rail, and cutting and grinding heads movably supported on the guide rail.

A self-contained truck-mounted brick laying machine can include a frame that can support packs or pallets of bricks placed on a platform. A transfer robot can pick up and move the brick(s). A carousel can be coaxial with a tower. The carousel can transfer the brick(s) via the tower to an articulated and/or telescoping boom. The bricks can be moved along the boom by, e.g., linearly moving shuttles, to reach a brick laying and adhesive applying head. The brick laying and adhesive applying head can mount to an element of the stick, about an axis which is disposed horizontally. The poise of the brick laying and adhesive applying head about the axis can be adjusted and can be set in use so that the base of a clevis of the robotic arm mounts about a horizontal axis, and the tracker component is disposed uppermost on the brick laying and adhesive applying head. The brick laying and adhesive applying head can apply adhesive to the brick and can have a robot that lays the brick. Vision and laser scanning and tracking systems can be provided to allow the measurement of as-built slabs, bricks, the monitoring and adjustment of the process and the monitoring of safety zones. The first, or any course of bricks can have the bricks pre machined by the router module so that the top of the course is level once laid.

An apparatus for cutting slab material comprising a working table to support the slabs to be cut during working; a working unit comprising disk cutting means and water-jet cutting means; and a unit for moving the working unit above the working table. The movement unit comprises a horizontal translation unit to move the working unit along two directions parallel to the working table and perpendicular to each other; a vertical translation unit to move the working unit along a direction perpendicular to the working table; a first rotation unit to rotate the working unit about a first axis, vertical and substantially perpendicular to the working table; and a second rotation unit to rotate the working unit about a second axis, inclined with respect to the first axis. Said disk cutting means and water-jet cutting means are integral and therefore the second rotation unit rotates simultaneously with the said cutting means.