A machine processes a stone or a stone-like slab having side edges and a finished face and bottom surface. A slab is positioned with the finished face down on vacuum pods positioned on a work table and oriented with a mirror imaged slab cut layout that is based upon a slab cut layout on the finished face of the slab. The slab is cut with a circular saw blade mounted on a spindle to cut the side edges of the slab upside down while positioned on the vacuum pods by following the mirror imaged slab cut layout to form a substantially finished slab. Relief supports, such as foam blocks, may support outside edge trim relief strips during cutting.

A machine processes a slab that is positioned with the finished face down on vacuum pods on a work table. The side edges of the slab are cut with the slab upside by following a mirror imaged slab cut layout to form a slab corresponding substantially to the shape of a countertop. Without removing the cut slab from the vacuum pods and maintaining the finished face down, the machine routes a sink hole using a finger bit that had been switched onto the spindle, the routing path based upon the mirror imaged slab cut layout. The slab is finished by forming an edge profile on the inside of any sink holes and edging and polishing the sides of the finished slab.

A system processes a stone slab having a top polished face and bottom surface. An imaging device receives and displays a digital image of the top polished face of the slab. A controller overlays a slab cut layout on the digital image of the top polished face, generates a digital slab layout file containing digital data representative of the top polished face and its slab cut layout referenced to the top end of adhered reference markers, mirror images the digital slab layout file, and projects the mirror imaged locations of the reference markers to facilitate alignment of the bottom ends of the adhered laser markers with the respective projected reference marker locations when the slab is upside down for cutting in a slab cutting position.

A method and device useful for material removal from large plate-shaped materials, for example machining and polishing of glass and stone. The invention includes a workstation having arrays of roller and suction cups which are selectively used to transport and secure a plate positioned in the workstation. An imaging device collects data on a true position of the plate in the workstation and compares the real position to a design or ideal position to determine a difference of position. An electronic control system calculates the difference and modifies the processing program to adjust for the difference eliminating the need to further reposition the plate to the ideal design position for processing.

A chop saw, grinding wheel, or like apparatus is disclosed herein also incorporated to an easily portable dust collection system. In a preferred embodiment, a worktable is provided with a center slot for receiving a circular saw blade. A negative pressure and resulting air flow is provided at the center slot to capture particulate matter as a byproduct of cutting the workpiece. Side slots are also disclosed to assist in particulate collection. A unique filter chamber having a cylindrical filter is additionally provided to remove dust from air and discharge the filtered air at a lateral side of the apparatus. A filter cleaning knob is additionally disclosed to assist in cleaning the filter. Of the beneficial aspects of the chop saw with dust collection system is its portability being one integral unit and the dust filter being easily cleaned and maintained.

In a glass plate working apparatus 1, a carrying-in position 3, a scribing position 4, a removing position 5, a grinding position 6, and a discharging position 7 are arranged at equal intervals linearly along a transporting direction, and a transporting device 8 for transporting glass plates 2 is additionally provided.

A novel cutting method and apparatus includes a cutting blade adapted to consistently and easily form a desirable kerf in a concrete substrate while capturing substantially all resulting concrete dust.

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 device useful for material removal from large plate-shaped materials, for example machining and polishing of glass and stone. The invention includes a workstation having arrays of roller and suction cups which are selectively used to transport and secure a plate positioned in the workstation. An imaging device collects data on a true position of the plate in the workstation and compares the real position to a design or ideal position to determine a difference of position. An electronic control system calculates the difference and modifies the processing program to adjust for the difference eliminating the need to further reposition the plate to the ideal design position for processing.

Various aspects of an apparatus are disclosed. In a particular aspect, an apparatus comprising a cylindrical filter, a filter cleaning knob, and a filter cleaning flap is disclosed. Within such embodiment, the filter cleaning knob is configured to rotate the cylindrical filter. The filter cleaning flap is coupled to the cylindrical filter and configured to sequentially make contact with a plurality of pleated segments of the cylindrical filter as the filter cleaning knob is rotated.