A splitting apparatus comprising a first splitting blade having a smooth top with a width X and a shoulder angle of less than the friction angle, relative to a point in the middle of the top, and a second splitting blade disposed opposite the first splitting blade, the second splitting blade having a smooth top with a width Y and a shoulder angle of less than the friction angle, relative to a point in the middle of the top.

A splitting apparatus comprising a first splitting blade having a smooth top with a width X and a shoulder angle of less than the friction angle, relative to a point in the middle of the top, and a second splitting blade disposed opposite the first splitting blade, the second splitting blade having a smooth top with a width Y and a shoulder angle of less than the friction angle, relative to a point in the middle of the top.

The present invention relates to a method for separating solid-body slices (1) from a donor substrate (2). The method comprises the steps of: producing modifications (10) within the donor substrate (2) by means of laser beams (12), wherein a detachment region is predefined by the modifications (10), along which detachment region the solid-body layer (1) is separated from the donor substrate (2), and removing material from the donor substrate (2), starting from a surface (4) extending in the peripheral direction of the donor substrate (2), in the direction of the centre (Z) of the donor substrate (2), in particular in order to produce a peripheral indentation (6).

A glass plate production method includes (1) preparing a glass material having a first main surface and a second main surface opposite to each other; (2) irradiating the first main surface of the glass material with a laser to form an in-plane void region having a plurality of voids arranged on the first main surface, and forming a plurality of internal void rows each having one void or two or more voids arranged from the in-plane void region toward the second main surface of the glass material; and (3) chemically strengthening the glass material having the internal void rows formed therein.

An apparatus for cutting slabs made of porcelain or like materials includes a support and blocking plane of at least a slab, and at least a cutting group of the slab, arranged superiorly thereof. The cutting group includes rotary tools associated with a carriage mobile along a parallel direction to the support plane; a component for moving the rotary tools independently of one another, in a perpendicular direction to the parallel direction, between two end positions, respectively an active neared position for working on the slab and a non-active distanced position, raised from the slab.

A method for manufacturing a multi-sided continuously patterned stone panel according to the present invention includes: cutting out stripes (116) in which continuous linear patterns are formed on both sides thereof by cutting an original plate (110) along successively repeated linear paths (continuous linear patterns) (112) while moving a water jet device (120) in a vertical direction; separating the separate stripes (116), and loading each of the separate stripes (116) on a lateral cutting device (130); and cutting out multi-sided continuously patterned stone panel products in which continuous linear patterns are formed on both sides thereof and remaining two sides thereof are cut in rectilinear lines by cutting the stripe (116) with a blade cutter (134), installed on a frame (132) of a lateral cutting device (130), in rectilinear lines in a lateral direction.

A method for manufacturing a multi-sided continuously patterned stone panel according to the present invention includes: cutting out stripes (116) in which continuous linear patterns are formed on both sides thereof by cutting an original plate (110) along successively repeated linear paths (continuous linear patterns) (112) while moving a water jet device (120) in a vertical direction; separating the separate stripes (116), and loading each of the separate stripes (116) on a lateral cutting device (130); and cutting out multi-sided continuously patterned stone panel products in which continuous linear patterns are formed on both sides thereof and remaining two sides thereof are cut in rectilinear lines by cutting the stripe (116) with a blade cutter (134), installed on a frame (132) of a lateral cutting device (130), in rectilinear lines in a lateral direction.

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.

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.

A method is described or processing diamonds, either natural or artificially produced, by using a laser beam with minimal power output. The laser wavelength is fitted to the peak absorption wavelength of diamond, such as a helium-silver laser with a wavelength of 224 nm.