2. Sawing
For heavy sawing, a slabbing saw with 381.0 mm – 457.2 mm (15-18 in.). Diameter diamond wheel is adequate for most purposes.
For exact sawing, a precision cut-off machine with a diamond abrasive wheel about 203.2 mm (8 in.) diameter and a table with two-way screw traversing and with provision for rotation, is adequate, the speed of the wheel is usually fixed, but the feed rate of the wheel through the work can be controlled.
To prepare prismatic specimens, the blocks may be first sawn into plates, the plates into bars and then into prisms of required dimension using the precision cut off machine.
When cores are to be cross-cut, core should be clamped in a vee-block which is slotted to permit passage of the wheel, because by supporting the core on both sides of the cut, the problem of spalling and lip formation at the end of the cut is largely avoided.