Patent ID: 9102078
Filing Date: 2015-08-11
Classification: B28D,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A method of preparing a plurality of workpieces for concurrent cutting using a stone cutting machine; the stone cutting machine having a plurality of stone cutting elements and being configured to concurrently create a plurality of stone cuts; the method comprising the steps of: providing a plurality of workpieces, each of the plurality of workpieces comprising (i) a stone slab having two parallel faces and one or more edges, (ii) a substrate bonded to a first face of the stone slab, and (iii) a substrate bonded to a second face of the stone slab, each workpiece having a top surface when positioned in a horizontal orientation; and positioning the plurality of workpieces as a stack of workpieces to position each of the workpieces with one edge of each stone slab in relative alignment with one of the stone cutting elements, wherein the positioning step comprises: (a) placing a first workpiece on a rack in a horizontal orientation, the rack configured to accept a plurality of workpieces in a horizontal orientation and to present the stack of workpieces in a vertical orientation for cutting; (b) measuring the top surface of the first workpiece relative to a reference site; (c) calculating a first shim level; (d) arranging a first set of shims on top of the top surface of the first workpiece, the first set of shims arranged according to the first shim level; and (e) placing a second workpiece on the rack in a horizontal orientation, the second workpiece placed on top of the first set of shims.