Determination of Cutting Performance of Multi-blade and Diamond-wire Gang Saws Used in Natural Stone Cutting

Abstract The objective of this study was to investigate the cutting performance of multi-blade and diamond-wire gang saws used in natural stone plants and to determine the more economical option. In the first phase, five different natural stones with varying physical-mechanical properties were cut using both gang saws, and key operational parameters were measured and compared, including cutting speed, bead/socket wear, energy consumption, water consumption, and surface quality of the slabs. The results revealed significant performance differences between the two cutting technologies. The diamond-wire gang saw achieved a cutting speed that was three times higher than that of the multi-blade gang saw. In terms of energy efficiency, a diamond-wire gang saw represents a 36% lower energy consumption than a multi-blade gang saw. The diamond-wire gang saw uses 50% less water than the multi-blade gang saw in terms of water consumption. In the second phase of the study, the ENTROPY-based TOPSIS method was applied to evaluate the two gang saws with respect to energy consumption, cutting quality, cutting time, and bead/socket wear. Consequently, based on this multi-criteria analysis, the diamond-wire gang saw was identified as the superior option, offering advantages in economic efficiency, cutting precision, and operational speed.