What Is Sintered Stone (a Porcelain Surface)?
Sintered stone is a large-format, thin, porcelain-based surface produced by pressing and firing natural mineral powders under high pressure and temperature. On the market it is known by brands such as Dekton, Neolith, Lapitec, Laminam and Sapienstone. It is used for kitchen countertops, façades, flooring and furniture surfaces.
- Very high surface hardness and wear resistance
- Almost zero porosity — it absorbs neither water nor stains
- Resistant to heat, UV light and scratching
- Large-format, thin slabs (usually 6-20 mm thick)
- A brittle structure — the edges and corners are vulnerable during cutting and handling
Why Is It Difficult to Cut?
The hardness of sintered stone increases tool wear, while its brittleness creates the risk of chipping where the cut enters and leaves the slab and around internal cut-outs. Because the material is thin and large-format, the risk of vibration and cracking rises sharply if it is cut without support.
Cutting Methods: Bridge Saw and Waterjet
In sintered stone countertop production the two methods complement each other: the bridge saw (diamond blade) for the main cutting and the chamfer, and the waterjet for the detail and internal cut-outs that need a cold cut.
Bridge Saw (Diamond Blade)
- Straight cutting, sizing — fast and economical
- 45° chamfer / mitre (the thick-edge appearance)
- Grooves, drainer channels and shaping on 5 axis
- The bulk of the main cutting workload
Waterjet (Cold Cutting)
- Cuts without generating heat — a low risk of thermal cracking
- Internal cut-outs, sinks, complex contours and curves
- Detail at sharp internal corners where the blade cannot reach
- Reduces the risk of chipping on a brittle surface
How Is Chipping Prevented?
- Use a diamond blade suited to porcelain and sintered stone (a continuous rim blade, or one made for the material in question).
- Reduce the feed rate at entry and exit — this is the single most important precaution.
- Support the slab fully and flat; vibration and cracking increase wherever it is unsupported.
- Provide adequate water cooling; keep the blade and the material cool.
- Where possible, make the internal cut-outs (sink, hob) with the waterjet, or drill the corners first and cut afterwards.
- Monitor blade wear; a blunt blade increases both the cutting force and the risk of chipping.
The Kitchen Countertop Application
On a sintered stone kitchen countertop the main sizing and the mitred joints are done with the bridge saw, while the sink and hob cut-outs and the curved detail are done with the waterjet for the advantage of a cold cut. A 5 axis bridge saw completes the 45° chamfer needed for the thick-edge appearance and the groove and drainer channel work on a single machine.
Machine Selection
For a workshop cutting sintered stone the bridge saw is the main machine, with the waterjet as the complement for precise sink and detail work. In bridge saws USEL offers the STORMA (premium) and Zenith (economy) series, and in waterjets the STORMA and Zenith models as well. A 5 axis bridge saw suits workshops doing thick-edge (mitre) work and shaping, while 4 axis suits those wanting to limit the initial investment. Get in touch through the quotation form for the right configuration for your workshop's volume.