Method and machine for cutting slabs made of natural stone, agglomerated or ceramic material

Abstract

Method for cutting slabs (S) made of natural stone, agglomerated or ceramic material, comprising the step of i) carrying out a series of cutting operations on the slabs (S) by means of disc cutting means (4) using predefined values of one or more operating parameters and generating respective cutting swarf (C), the disc cutting means (4) being moved along respective cutting directions or lines, ii) recording a series of images and / or videos of the slabs (S) with the respective cutting swarf (C) generated during step i), iii) analysing and processing the images and / or videos by means of a software based on at least one artificial intelligence algorithm suitably trained to obtain automatic measurements of the actual size of the cutting swarf (C), iv) adjusting the predefined values of the operating parameters and / or of the cutting directions or lines on the basis of the automatic measurements of the actual size of the cutting swarf (C) and v) carrying out further cutting operations on the slabs (S) by means of the disc cutting means (4) which use predefined values of the operating parameters and / or respective cutting directions or lines obtained during step iv) and adjusted on the basis of the automatic measurements.

Description

[0001] “Method and machine for cutting slabs made of natural stone, agglomerated or ceramic material”

[0002] ★ ★★★★

[0003] The present invention concerns the technical field of machining slabs made of natural stone, agglomerated or ceramic material and relates to a method for cutting such slabs.

[0004] The invention also relates to a machine for cutting slabs made of natural stone, agglomerated or ceramic material.

[0005] In the technical field relating to the machining of slabs made of natural stone, agglomerated or ceramic material it is widely known to use machines for cutting the slabs in order to obtain strips and / or tiles and / or elements or parts of varying shape.

[0006] These machines generally comprise disc cutting means or a cutting disc mounted on respective spindles and a control computer with management and optimization software.

[0007] Said software is configured to determine, from the shapes and sizes of the slabs, the number of cut elements or parts to be obtained and their shapes and sizes, the cutting directions or lines which the cutting discs must follow in order to minimize the waste, moving and positioning accordingly the spindles of the cutting discs.

[0008] Furthermore, the cutting discs, with the respective diamond inserts, each have a predetermined thickness, such that they generate corresponding cutting swarf in the slabs following the cutting operations.

[0009] As is known, the thickness of the cutting discs with the diamond inserts is correlated to the diameter thereof; for example, the thickness of the diamond inserts of the cutting discs which have a diameter of 400 mm is about 3.3 mm, while the thickness of the diamond inserts of the cutting discs which have a diameter of 800 mm is about 6 mm.

[0010] The management software of the machine is configured to take into account the actual size of the cutting swarf in order to move and position the spindles of the cutting discs, minimizing the amount of waste material.

[0011] One drawback of the aforementioned technical solutions consists in the fact that actual size of the swarf resulting from the cut made in the slab is greater - in particular at least a few tenths of a millimetre greater - than the size of the theoretical cutting swarf which depends instead only on the thickness of the respective cutting disc.

[0012] This drawback arises from the fact that the actual cutting lines, during machining of the slabs, may differ from the cutting lines determined by the management software owing to deviations due to lack of precision, errors, tolerance or play.

[0013] Furthermore, the cutting means might not be perfectly aligned with the respective cutting lines, namely the centre planes of the disc cutting means may be slightly rotated or also displaced with respect to the respective cutting lines.

[0014] A further drawback consists in the fact that the size of the cutting swarf produced by each disc tends to vary over time, owing to the reduction in the thickness of the diamond inserts, due to wear.

[0015] The variability in the size of the cutting swarf results in a consequent variability in the dimensions of the cut parts, which differ therefore from the predefined dimensions entered in the management software. Operationally speaking, the actual sizes of the cutting swarf are measured and recorded manually and at regular intervals for each of the disc cutting means and then entered into the management software in order to obtain cut parts which have dimensions as close as possible to the desired dimensions. This measurement procedure is particularly long and complex and is such that operation of the machine must be interrupted and the machine must remain inoperative until the measurements have been completed and then restarted, with a consequent increase in the overall production time and costs.

[0016] Moreover, this latter drawback does not allow a high degree of precision to be obtained in the definition of the cutting lines or directions to be followed, since the measurement of the swarf depends on the ability of the operators and the precision of the instruments used.

[0017] Furthermore, the measurements are performed only following a certain time period after the start of the cutting operations, so as to avoid interrupting too often operation of the machine.

[0018] Consequently, it is not possible to determine the actual size of each cutting swarf between one recorded measurement and the next one, so that the dimensions of the cut parts risk to be different from those required.

[0019] The main object of the present invention is to provide a method and a machine for cutting slabs made of natural stone, agglomerated and ceramic material, which are able to overcome the aforementioned drawbacks.

[0020] A particular task of the present invention is to provide a method and a machine of the type indicated above which allow the actual sizes of the cutting swarf generated by the disc cutting means to be automatically recorded.

[0021] A further task of the present invention is to provide a method and a machine of the type indicated above which allow the size of the swarf generated during further slab cutting operations to be reduced.

[0022] Another task of the present invention is to provide a method and a machine of the type described above which allow the swarf which is formed with cutting of the slabs to be minimized.

[0023] A further task of the present invention is to provide a method and a machine of the type described above which allow the dimensional errors during cutting of the slabs to be reduced.

[0024] Another task of the present invention is to provide a method and a machine of the type indicated above which are able to reduce or even eliminate the machine downtime and therefore the overall machining time.

[0025] A further task of the present invention is to provide a method and a machine of the type indicated above which allow the precision of the cutting lines, and therefore the quality of the parts obtained by means of cutting of the slabs, to be increased.

[0026] A further task of the present invention is to provide a method and a machine which allow cut parts having dimensions which are as close as possible to the desired predefined dimensions to be obtained.

[0027] The main tasks and object described above are achieved with a method and a machine for cutting slabs made of natural stone, agglomerated or ceramic material in accordance with claim 1 and claim 15, respectively.

[0028] In order to illustrate more clearly the innovative principles of the present invention and its advantages compared to the prior art, an example of embodiment of a machine for cutting slabs of natural stone, agglomerated or ceramic material will be described below with the aid of the accompanying figures.

[0029] In particular:

[0030] - Figure 1 shows a perspective view of the machine for cutting slabs according to the present invention with a respective enlarged detail;

[0031] - Figure 2 is a schematic block-diagram view of the machine for cutting slabs according to the present invention.

[0032] The present description, provided only by way of a non-limiting illustration of the scope of protection of the invention, relates to a method and a machine for cutting slabs made of natural stone, agglomerated or ceramic material.

[0033] The machine for cutting the slabs is denoted overall in the attached figures by the reference number 1 .

[0034] The operation of the cutting machine 1 is regulated by means of a control computer 2, for example a numerical control unit, visible in the schematic view of Figure 2, with a dedicated control software.

[0035] Cutting of the slabs S along the respective cutting directions or lines results in the formation of cut parts or portions P with predetermined shapes and dimensions, as shown in Figure 1 , as well as trimming of the peripheral edges of the slabs S.

[0036] In a manner known per se, the parts P may consist for example of strips and / or tiles and their configuration for each slab S is obtained automatically, usually, but not necessarily, so as to minimize the machining swarf in accordance with procedures commonly known as optimization or nesting.

[0037] Obviously, the parts and the portions obtained by means of cutting of the slabs may also have shapes different from those indicated above and illustrated in the attached figures, without thereby departing from the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0038] The machine 1 according to the present invention may also be inserted in a production line comprising a series of machines for machining the slabs.

[0039] The machine 1 for cutting the slabs S made of natural stone, agglomerated and ceramic material, comprises preferably:

[0040] - disc cutting means 4 for performing a series of cutting operations on the slabs S using predefined values of one or more operating parameters and generating respective cutting swarf C;

[0041] - a bench 6 for supporting the slabs S;

[0042] - means 8 for moving the disc cutting means 4 above the support bench 6 and along respective cutting lines or directions;

[0043] - the control computer 2 connected to the disc cutting means 4 and the movement means 8 and having the dedicated software configured to control and adjust the operation of the disc cutting means 4 and the movement means 8.

[0044] Conveniently, and as shown more clearly in Figure 1 , the cutting means 4 comprise at least one cutting disc 5 mounted on a respective disc-holder cutting spindle and the movement means 8 are preferably of the Cartesian type.

[0045] As shown more clearly in Figure 1 , the movement means 8 preferably comprise at least one horizontal beam 9 slidably mounted at its ends on support structures 11 , at least one carriage 13 slidably mounted on the beam 8, a sleeve 15 mounted on the carriage 13 and slidable along a respective vertical direction, and a support head 17 mounted on the bottom end of the sleeve 15 and rotatable at least about a vertical axis.

[0046] The head 17 may comprise a fork member connected rotatably to the bottom end of the sleeve 15 and a support rotatable with respect to the fork member about a horizontal axis.

[0047] The at least one cutting disc 5, together with the respective disc-holder spindle and any protective cover 7, are mounted on the rotatable support of the head 17

[0048] However, the innovative principles of the present invention and its advantages compared to the prior art are advantageously applicable all the more so in a machine comprising a plurality of cutting discs mounted on respective disc-holder spindles.

[0049] Moreover, different movement means, for example an anthropomorphic arm, may also be provided.

[0050] Conveniently, the control computer 2 is configured to control and adjust the operation of the disc cutting means 4 and the movement means 8 in accordance with a work program or set-up intended to be loaded in the control computer 2, in particular in the dedicated control software.

[0051] The work program or set-up contains the predefined values of the operating parameters which the disc cutting means 4 and the movement means 8 must use in order to obtain predefined cutting directions or lines.

[0052] For example, the operating parameters may be chosen from the group comprising the feeding speed of the disc cutting means 4 and therefore the movement means 8, the speed of rotation or the number of revolutions per minute of the disc cutting means 4 and the cutting depth of the disc cutting means 4.

[0053] Moreover, the disc cutting means 4 use predetermined operating conditions which may comprise the diameter of the disc cutting means 4 and the thickness of the disc cutting means 4, namely the thickness of the diamond inserts of the cutting disc 5.

[0054] In accordance with the present invention and as shown schematically in Figure 2, the machine 1 comprises automatic means 10 for recording a series of images and / or videos of the slabs S with the respective cutting swarf C and a processing unit 12 with a software based on at least one artificial intelligence algorithm suitably trained and configured to perform the analysis and processing of the images and / or the videos and obtain automatic measurements of the actual size of the swarf C from the analysis and processing.

[0055] With this special feature, differently from the prior art, it is possible to obtain automatically measurements with a precision of the order of a few hundredths of a millimetre.

[0056] The at least one artificial intelligence algorithm may be also trained and configured to identify the cutting swarf C in the image and / or in the video to be analysed, distinguishing the swarf for example from dark coloured veining, before obtaining the respective automatic measurement of the actual size.

[0057] As shown schematically in Figure 2, the automatic recording means 10 are connected to the processing unit 12 for transmission of the images and / or videos to be analysed and processed.

[0058] Furthermore, the automatic recording means 10 comprise at least one camera and / or video camera 14, of the type shown in Figure 1 , configured to record the images and / or videos of the slabs S with the respective cutting swarf C.

[0059] Moreover, the at least one camera and / or video camera 14 is mounted on or in the vicinity of the disc cutting means 4 as close as possible to the cutting area, for example on the protection cover 7, as shown in Figure 1 , in order to increase the resolution of the image and / or the video.

[0060] However, the at least one camera or video camera 14 may also be mounted on other components of the machine 1 , without thereby departing form the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0061] The cutting machine 1 may also have a software installed in the control computer 2 and configured to determine the predefined cutting directions and lines which the disc cutting means 4 and the movement means 8 must follow during the cutting operations, so that the cutting swarf is reduced or minimized.

[0062] In particular, said software is an optimization or nesting software and is configured to minimize automatically the waste material.

[0063] Conveniently, the processing unit 12 is connected to the control computer 2 and is configured to transmit the automatic measurements of the actual size of the cutting swarf C to the control computer 2 and / or to the optimization software, as shown schematically in Figure 2, in order to obtain cut parts having dimensions which are as close as possible to the desired dimensions. The control computer 2 with the dedicated software and the optimization software are configured to adjust or define respectively, on the basis of the automatic measurements, the values of the operating parameters and / or the cutting directions or lines to be used during the further subsequent cuts performed on the slabs S.

[0064] Furthermore, the at least one artificial intelligence algorithm of the processing unit 12 is configured to optimize the work program or set-up loaded in the control computer 2, on the basis of the automatic measurements of the actual size of the swarf C, in particular adjusting the operating parameters indicated above, so as to obtain cut parts with precise dimensions, and to minimize the waste material.

[0065] In turn, the processing unit 12 may be configured to receive data and information relating to the instantaneous position of the disc cutting means 4 from the control computer 2, as shown schematically in Figure 2.

[0066] With such a configuration of the machine it is possible to perform increasingly more precise cuts automatically and at the same time reduce the size of the swarf C for the cuts to be subsequently performed, down to a value close to a few millimetres greater than the thickness of the cutting discs 5, thereby limiting the waste material and the sludge produced by the cutting operations. The at least one artificial intelligence algorithm consists preferably of a convolutional neutral network model.

[0067] Furthermore, the at least one artificial intelligence algorithm may be composed of a series of modules which make use of the deep learning principle, or may use a regression analysis or may be assisted by statistical analyses in order to increase the accuracy and reliability of the automatic measurements.

[0068] During the analysis and processing procedure performed by the processing unit 12, the images and / or videos transmitted from the automatic recording means 10, i.e. the camera and / or the video camera 14, constitute the inputs of the procedure, while the automatic measurements of the actual sizes of the cutting swarf C constitute the outputs of the procedure.

[0069] Furthermore, the processing unit 12 uses so-called “data fusion”, namely uses the at least one artificial intelligence algorithm to catalogue and classify the data collected, namely the automatic measurements of the actual sizes of the cutting swarf C with the respective cutting lines.

[0070] In this connection, the cutting machine 1 may also comprise a memory designed to contain a database comprising the automatic measurements of the actual sizes of the swarf C which can be obtained from the images and / or optionally the videos and any images and / or videos thereof.

[0071] These memorized automatic measurements may be associated with specific operating conditions and / or specific values of the operating parameters and / or of the specific cutting lines.

[0072] The database may also be implemented in a cloud system connected to the processing unit 12.

[0073] The automatic measurements of the database, and any images and / or videos, may be intended for further training of the at least one artificial intelligence algorithm and may be used in the subsequent cutting operations, depending on the predetermined operating conditions, in order to define specific values of the operating parameters to be used in order to increase the precision of the cuts and reduce the size of the swarf C.

[0074] As mentioned, the invention also relates to a method for cutting slabs S of natural stone material, agglomerated material or ceramic material.

[0075] The method comprises preferably the following steps: i) performing a series of cutting operations on the slabs S by means of the disc cutting means 4 using predefined values of one or more operating parameters and generating respective cutting swarf C, the disc cutting means 4 being moved along respective cutting directions or lines; ii) recording a series of images and / or videos of the slabs with the respective cutting swarf C generated in said step i); iii) analysing and processing the images and / or the videos by means of a software based on at least one artificial intelligence algorithm suitably trained in order to obtain automatic measurements of the actual size of the cutting swarf C; iv) adjusting the predefined values of the operating parameters and / or the cutting directions or lines on the basis of the automatic measurements of the actual size of the cutting swarf C; v) performing further cutting operations on the slabs S by means of the disc cutting means 4 which use the predefined values of the operating parameters and / or the respective cutting directions or lines obtained with step iv) and adjusted on the basis of the automatic measurements.

[0076] These further cutting operations generate respective cutting swarf C, the actual size of which may also be measured automatically by means of application of the method described above.

[0077] Preferably, the at least one artificial intelligence algorithm is trained on the basis of the images and / or the videos recorded during step ii).

[0078] During steps i) and v), the cutting means 4 may also use predetermined operating conditions; the operating conditions and the operating parameters are chosen from within the groups indicated above with reference to the cutting machine 1 . Advantageously, the cutting operations carried out during step i) may be test operations in order to record as many images and / or videos as possible of the slabs S with the cutting swarf C.

[0079] Furthermore, the method is implemented overall by means of the machine 1 described above and during step i) the disc cutting means 4 are moved along the cutting directions or lines by means of the movement means 8 of the machine 1 described above.

[0080] Step ii) is performed by means of the automatic recording means 10 of the cutting machine 1 which comprise at least one camera and / or at least one video camera 14.

[0081] Furthermore, step v) is carried out to obtain cut parts P with a predetermined shape from the slabs S and the adjustment step iv) is carried out at the end of the previous cutting operation or at the end of the previous cutting of each part with a predetermined shape.

[0082] Conveniently, the at least one artificial intelligence algorithm, of the type described above with reference to the machine 1 , is configured to perform step iii) by means of analysis and processing of the images and / or videos recorded by the automatic recording means 10.

[0083] In particular, the analysis and processing step iii) may comprise a step of identification of the cutting swarf C on the slabs S from the images and / or videos, said step being performed before the automatic measurements of the actual sizes of the cutting swarf C are obtained.

[0084] Therefore, the at least one artificial intelligence algorithm may be trained also to identify the cutting swarf C in the images and / or the videos recorded during step ii). Advantageously, the at least one artificial intelligence algorithm may also be trained to detect any irregularities along the cutting edges from the images and / or the videos.

[0085] In fact, the processing of any irregularities along the cutting edges, as well as the automatic measurements of the actual size of the cutting swarf C, also allows a gradual reduction in the size of the cutting swarf C during the further cutting operations.

[0086] Furthermore, the automatic measurements obtained by means of processing of the at least one algorithm and the related images and / or videos recorded during step ii), may be associated with the operating conditions and / or the predefined values of the operating parameters and / or the cutting directions or lines used during step i), also to define a predictive virtual model for carrying out the further cutting operations during step v).

[0087] Therefore, the method may also comprise a step of memorizing the automatic measurements, as well as the images and / or the videos in which the cutting swarf C is visible, associated with the corresponding operating conditions and / or the predefined values of the operating parameters and / or the cutting directions or lines used during step i).

[0088] The automatic measurements and / or the images and / or the videos may be memorized in the memory of the cutting machine 1 described above in order to carry out the training of the at least one artificial intelligence algorithm before performing the further cutting operations.

[0089] Therefore, steps i) - iii) may be repeated a predefined number of times so as to memorize a large number of automatic measurements of the actual sizes of the swarf C and / or photos and / or videos, which will allow the training process of the at least one artificial intelligence algorithm to be increasingly improved and the size of the cutting swarf C to be gradually reduced during the further subsequent cutting operations.

[0090] Conveniently, the software of the machine 1 described above, namely the optimization software, is configured to define or adjust the cutting directions or lines to be used during step v) on the basis of the automatic measurements obtained by means of processing by the at least one artificial intelligence algorithm in step iii).

[0091] Moreover, the control computer 2 of the cutting machine 1 is configured to perform step iv) for adjusting the values of the operating parameters to be used during step v) on the basis of the automatic measurements obtained by means of processing by the at least one artificial intelligence algorithm of step iii).

[0092] As mentioned above, the at least one artificial intelligence algorithm of the processing unit 12 is configured to optimize the work program or set-up loaded initially in the control computer 2 and containing the operating conditions, the predefined values of the operating parameters and the cutting lines on the basis of the automatic measurements of the actual size of the swarf C.

[0093] In addition and only occasionally when considered necessary, the measurements of the actual size of the cutting swarf C may be obtained manually and then entered in the control computer 2 and / or in the optimization software via respective interfaces by an operator responsible for the machine.

[0094] This measure, which is adopted only occasionally, may help for example train more effectively the at least one artificial intelligence algorithm.

[0095] The method preferably also comprises a step of determining the size of the theoretical cutting swarf for each of the disc cutting means 4.

[0096] The theoretical cutting swarf is the swarf which would theoretically be obtained by performing cuts in the slabs where only the thickness of the disc cutting means 4 is considered.

[0097] The sizes of the theoretical cutting swarf may also be stored in the memory of the machine in order to perform a step comparing said theoretical sizes with the actual size recorded by means of the automatic measurements of the swarf C generated during step i).

[0098] Advantageously, said comparison step is also performed by means of the at least one artificial intelligence algorithm and allows a value for the deviation between the sizes of the swarf to be obtained; step iv) for adjusting the predefined values of the operating parameters and / or the cutting directions is performed if the deviation value exceeds a predefined threshold value.

[0099] Moreover, the adjustment step iv) is performed when the operating conditions described above and relating to the disc cutting means 4 coincide with or are similar / equivalent, for example when the disc cutting means 4 used during step i) and step v) have the same diameter and / or thickness of the diamond inserts.

[0100] Moreover, it may also be envisaged using a further reinforcing algorithm based on the artificial intelligence in order to improve the quality of recording of the images and / or videos during step ii).

[0101] From the above description it is now clear how the cutting machine and method according to the present invention are able to achieve advantageously the predefined objects.

[0102] In particular, by using the at least one processing unit with a software based on at least one artificial intelligence algorithm, it is possible to obtain automatic and extremely precise measurements of the actual size of the cutting swarf, to within a few hundredths of a millimetre of the thickness of the cutting means.

[0103] In this way and by means of training of the at least one algorithm, it is possible to reduce gradually the size of the cutting swarf and obtain increasingly more precise cuts on the slabs, consequently reducing the machining errors.

[0104] The aforementioned measures, in particular the automatic recording of the actual size of the cutting swarf, also allow the overall machining time to be reduced, since by using the automatic recording means and artificial intelligence it is possible to avoid interrupting operation of the machine in order to record the actual size of the cutting swarf.

[0105] Obviously, the above description of embodiments applying the innovative principles of the present invention is provided by way of example of these innovative principles and must therefore not be regarded as limiting the scope of the rights claimed herein.

Claims

Claims1 . Method for cutting slabs (S) made of natural stone, agglomerated or ceramic material, comprising the following steps: i) performing a series of cutting operations on the slabs (S) by means of disc cutting means (4) using predefined values of one or more operating parameters and generating respective cutting swarf (C), said disc cutting means (4) being moved along respective cutting directions or lines; ii) recording a series of images and / or videos of the slabs (S) with the respective cutting swarf (C) generated in said step i); iii) analysing and processing said images and / or said videos by means of a software based on at least one artificial intelligence algorithm suitably trained in order to obtain automatic measurements of the actual size of the cutting swarf (C); iv) adjusting the predefined values of the operating parameters and / or the cutting directions or lines on the basis of said automatic measurements of the actual size of the cutting swarf (C); v) performing further cutting operations on the slabs (S) by means of said disc cutting means (4) which use the predefined values of the operating parameters and / or the respective cutting directions or lines obtained in said step iv) and adjusted on the basis of the automatic measurements.

2. Method according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the method comprises a step of determining the size of the theoretical cutting swarf for each of the disc cutting means (4) and a comparison step for comparing the size of the theoretical cutting swarf and the actual size recorded by means of automatic measurements of the swarf (C) generated insaid step i).

3. Method according to the preceding claim, characterized in that said comparison step is performed by means of said at least one artificial intelligence algorithm so as to obtain a deviation value, said adjustment step iv) being performed if the deviation value exceeds a predefined threshold value.

4. Method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said step ii) is performed by means of automatic recording means (10) comprising at least one camera and / or at least one video camera (14).

5. Method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said of analysis and processing step (iii) comprises a step of identifying the cutting swarf (C) from said images and / or videos before obtaining said automatic measurements.

6. Method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said at least one artificial intelligence algorithm is trained also to detect any irregularities along the cutting edges, from said images and / or videos.

7. Method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the operating parameters used in said step i) and in said step v) are chosen from the group comprising the feeding speed of the disc cutting means (4), the speed of rotation or the number of revolutions of the disc cutting means (4) and the cutting depth of the disc cutting means (4).

8. Method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the method is implemented by means of a machine (1 )for cutting the slabs (S) comprising at least said disc cutting means (4), means (8) for moving the disc cutting means (4) above a support bench (6), a control computer (2) connected to said disc cutting means (4) and to said movement means (8), and a software configured to determine the predefined cutting directions or lines.

9. Method according to the preceding claim, characterized in that said software is an optimization or nesting software configured to minimize automatically the waste material.

10. Method according to Claim 8, characterized in that said software is configured to define or adjust the cutting directions or lines to be used in said step v) on the basis of said automatic measurements of the actual size of the cutting swarf (C).

11. Method according to any one of Claims 8-10, characterized in that said control computer (2) is configured to perform the step iv) of adjusting the predefined values of the operating parameters to be used in said step v) on the basis of said automatic measurements of the actual size of the cutting swarf (C).

12. Method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said at least one artificial intelligence algorithm consists of a convolutional neural network model.

13. Method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that in said steps i) and v) the disc cutting means (4) use predetermined operating conditions comprising the diameter of the disc cutting means (4) and the thickness of the disc cutting means (4).

14. Method according to any one of the preceding claims,characterized in that the method comprises a step of memorizing the automatic measurements of the actual size of the cutting swarf (C) associated with said disc cutting means (4) and / or specific operating conditions and / or specific operating parameters and / or specific cutting directions or lines used in said step i).

15. Machine (1 ) for cutting slabs (S) made of natural stone, agglomerated or ceramic material, comprising:- disc cutting means (4) designed for performing a series of cutting operations on the slabs (S) using predetermined operating conditions and predefined values of one or more operating parameters, generating respective cutting swarf (C);- a support bench (6) for the slabs (S);- means (8) for the movement of the disc cutting means (4) above the support bench (6) and along respective cutting lines or directions;- a control computer (2) connected to said disc cutting means (4) and to said movement means (8) and having a dedicated control software configured for controlling and adjusting the operation of said disc cutting means (4) and of said movement means (8); characterized in that the machine (1 ) comprises automatic means (10) for recording a series of images and / or videos of the slabs (S) with the respective cutting swarf (C) and a processing unit (12) with a software based on at least one artificial intelligence algorithm configured to perform the analysis and processing of the images and / or the videos and to obtain automatic measurements of the actual size of the cutting swarf (C).

16. Machine (1 ) according to the preceding claim, characterized inthat said automatic recording means (10) comprise at least one camera and / or at least one video camera (14) which are configured to record the images and / or videos of the slabs (S) with the cutting swarf (C).

17. Machine (1 ) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that said at least one camera and / or said at least one video camera (14) is / are mounted at or close to said disc cutting means (4).

18. Machine (1 ) according to any one of Claims 15-17, characterized in that the machine (1 ) provides an optimization software and in that said processing unit (12) is connected to said control computer (2), said processing unit (12) being configured to transmit the automatic measurements to said control computer (2) and / or to said optimization software and said control unit (2) and / or said optimization software being configured to adjust respectively the values of the operating parameters and / or the cutting directions or lines on the basis of the automatic measurements of the actual size of the cutting swarf (C).

19. Machine (1 ) according to any one of Claims 15-18, characterized in that the operating parameters are chosen from the group comprising the feeding speed of the disc cutting means (4), the speed of rotation or the number of revolutions of the disc cutting means (4) and the cutting depth of the disc cutting means (4).

20. Machine (1 ) according to any one of Claims 15-19, characterized in that said at least one artificial intelligence algorithm consists of a convolutional neural network model.

21. Machine (1 ) according to any one of Claims 15-20, characterized in that the machine (1 ) comprises a memory configured to contain a databasecomprising the automatic measurements associated with specific operating conditions and / or specific values of the operating parameters and / or specific cutting lines.

22. Machine (1 ) according to any one of Claims 15-21 , characterized in that said predetermined operating conditions comprise the diameter of the disc cutting means (4) and the thickness of the disc cutting means (4).

Images