Machine for Sawing Stone Slabs

Machine for sawing stone slabs

The dominant drawing is a large stone-sawing bench. A slab is bedded on a table where the sawyer works, and a saw frame carrying the blades runs back and forth across it to cut the stone.

Two-piece bracket carrying the blades

The bracket (staffa) that holds the saws can be forged as a single piece with the blades welded inside it. Leonardo prefers making it in two pieces, so that changing a blade requires only drawing out the bolt (chiavarda).

Bench, seat and iron straps against vibration

Screws a b fasten the seat (scanno) to the bench (desco) where the sawyer works, and iron straps (bandelle) keep the bench from shaking as it cuts.

Stone set an inch proud of the bench

When the slab is glued down it should stand an inch higher below the stone than the top of the bench. This clearance lets the saw work freely and take emery (smeriglio) beneath itself.

Saw frame balanced like a scale over the cut

If only one of the two saws is in contact, it must sit in the middle of its frame so the frame's weight stays distributed 'like a balance' over the working cut. Once the second saw descends onto the stone, both are set together in the middle of the frame.

Length of saw travel and clearance for emery

The saw's stroke should carry its centre of gravity to the ends of the sawn stone and a little beyond, so the blade rises on its lighter side to admit emery beneath the raised part. The travel should equal the length of the stone, though the rule fails for stones very small or very large.

Facciata destra, in alto:

Più sotto, a destra del disegno della macchina:

A sinistra del disegno della macchina:

In basso, accanto alle due viti le lettere:

Facciata sinistra. In alto a destra, figura colle lettere:

A sinistra della figura, lungo la colonna centrale:

Più sotto, a destra, figura colle lettere:

A sinistra della figura, lungo la colonna centrale:

In alto a sinistra, figura colle lettere:

A destra della figura:

A sinistra della figura:

Più sotto figura colle lettere:

In basso a sinistra una figura colle lettere:

A sinistra della figura:

A destra della figura:

In alto a destra la scritta:

Right side, at the top:

Lower down, to the right of the drawing of the machine:

To the left of the drawing of the machine:

Below, beside the two screws, the letters:

Left side. Upper right, a figure with the letters:

To the left of the figure, along the central column:

Lower down, on the right, a figure with the letters:

To the left of the figure, along the central column:

Upper left, a figure with the letters:

To the right of the figure:

To the left of the figure:

Lower down, a figure with the letters:

Lower left, a figure with the letters:

To the left of the figure:

To the right of the figure:

Upper right, the inscription:

Machine for Sawing Stone Slabs

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