Abstract

Due to their unique characteristics such as excellent resistance to environmental effects and attractive decorative properties, granites has a special interest among natural stones. In recent years increasingly more efforts have been directed on machining of granites. Main driving factors for these efforts are the cost of machining process and the complex nature of the granites. In addition to the researches aiming at enhancing the operational conditions of the conventional processes such as circular sawing, the innovative methods and technologies have been experimented in granite machining. Among the innovative technologies developed recently, abrasive water jet (AWJ) cutting is being increasingly seen as a most promising machining method. AWJ cutting method has the ability to meet the required standards, while eliminating theadverse effects of the conventional methods.