Travertine from our own quarry.

It is the first machine to touch the stone. It is set up on the quarry bench and moves along a rail while the arm, with a toothed chain, sinks into the rock. That is how it makes the straight, deep cuts that separate large masses from the face.

1. 1Arm and chainThe chain runs around the arm with cutting teeth and sinks it into the rock.
2. 2MotorDrives the chain and controls how fast the machine advances.
3. 3CarriageCarries the whole machine along the rail, step by step, while it cuts.
4. 4RailLaid on the bench, along the cutting line.
5. 5Travertine benchThe layer of stone being separated from the face.

A steel wire with diamond beads wraps around the rock and runs non-stop; the machine moves back on its rails to keep it taut, and the cut advances evenly until it goes through the block.

1. 1FlywheelThe large wheel that pulls the wire and spins it at high speed.
2. 2Diamond wire sawA steel cable with diamond beads. It cuts by abrasion, with water to cool it.
3. 3RailsThe machine backs away little by little so the wire stays taut.
4. 4BlockThe wire wraps around it through holes drilled in the rock.
5. 5CutIt advances evenly, without impact, until it goes through the block.

It also moves the thick slabs. The clamp grips the stone by its sides, so it is not drilled or knocked, and the whole gantry runs on rails from one end of the yard to the other.

1. 1BeamSpans the stockyard from side to side; the trolley runs along it.
2. 2Trolley and hoistTravels along the beam and raises or lowers the hook.
3. 3ClampGrips the block by its sides, without drilling or knocking it.
4. 4Legs and railsThe whole gantry travels on rails along the stockyard.
5. 5BlockEach block, with its number, waits its turn for the saw.

Dozens of parallel diamond wires come down together through the block, and the slab thickness depends on the spacing between wires. It is the Skystone saw you see in the video.

1. 1FlywheelsTwo sets of drums carry dozens of wires at once.
2. 2Diamond wiresThey come down together through the block. Each wire is one cut.
3. 3ColumnsThe head moves down the columns as it cuts.
4. 4CarriageThe block goes into the saw on a cart and comes out cut.
5. 5SlabsBetween two wires there is one slab: all with the same vein.

The disc drops to the thickness of the slab and the head travels along the bridge making straight cuts, always with water.

1. 1Diamond discIt has diamond segments on the rim and spins with water.
2. 2Head and motorRaises or lowers the disc to the thickness of the slab.
3. 3BridgeThe head runs along the bridge and makes straight cuts.
4. 4TableThe slab stays still while the disc goes by.
5. 5WaterCools the disc and carries away the cutting dust.