Cutting the slab

Sep 16, 2019

Cutting occupies a prominent position among the technological excellence of BMR's production dedicated to ceramic tile finishing, especially considering the development of large sizes and slabs.

BMR’s proximity to the needs of the end customer, even more than the actual production, also gives the technology a "service" role that aims to respond to new needs with great versatility and customization.

Cutting can be done before or after the kiln: once the slab production has been defined, it is necessary to decide whether to fire it already configured in sub-multiples or whether to cut it after firing. This decision conditions and determines the cycle. If the raw cutting of the slab allows the secondary sizes to be programmed, the post-kiln cutting allows proceeding in different ways: in fact, from the large-size slab, it is possible to obtain secondary sizes that, in turn, can be cut into strips.

BMR cutting line

Cutting is an operation of great importance for the end of the line stage and is strictly connected to the squaring process. Today there are many large size slabs produced that are cut after firing, allowing the creation of secondary sizes and decorative elements with high-level technologies. BMR offers cutting/engraving and fracture lines with both wet and dry technology with longitudinal or transverse cutting. However, we must consider the fact that the ceramic trend is shifting ever more towards dry technology.

The BMR dry cutting machines are:

TRASLADRY/DRYCUT - these are the two main dry solutions for the engraving phase: the first is of the transverse type and the second longitudinal;
COMBITRASLA DRY - two single-size dry incision/splitting solutions.

TRASLADRY is a dry technology machine dedicated to the transversal incision of the tile.

A first incision is made by a diamond disc and prepares the surface for a second incision made by a small wheel which will break the ceramic surface bond, thus preparing it for the subsequent fracture.

The machine can be fitted with up to 5 cutting stations, each equipped with a diamond disc for pre-cutting and a wheel with a transfer bridge for transversal cutting of the slab.

Settings, as well as the thickness of the cut, can be programmed and saved using the touch-screen keypad.

Trasladry

Transversal incision with Trasladry

Complete Trasladry line

DRYCUT is a dry technology machine for incision and longitudinal cutting of the tile. The heads are fixed and adjusted in their position and perform a pre-cut with a diamond disc and incision with the wheel. DRYCUT can be fitted with up to 8 cutting stations. In DRYCUT we also find the fracturing device that splits (cuts) the slab..

Drycut

Longitudinal incision with Drycut

Fracturing device on the Drycut

COMBITRASLA DRY is a dry technology machine that cuts across the surface and splits it into a single transport unit and in limited spaces. COMBITRASLA DRY is available in 2 versions:

with cutting wheel and splitting from the bottom;
with diamond disc for pre-cutting, small wheel for incision and splitting from the bottom.

CombiTrasla Dry with cutting wheel and splitting from the bottom

CombiTrasla Dry with diamond disc for pre-cutting, small wheel for incision and splitting from the bottom

The cutting phase is therefore a complete process, both in terms of type and method, and effectively responds to the needs of the different sizes. This processing is an advantageous addition to TopSquadra Dry 4.0., a fully automatic squaring line in which each electro-mechanical unit is controlled in real time by the BMR management software, without the manual intervention of the operator.

It follows therefore that the cutting technology, often in a more secluded position compared to the grinding phase, features a dynamism and flexibility that contribute to strengthening the efficiency of the Squadra 4.0 automation.