SFA: What's the Answer?

I just spent considerable time researching this. Here are some attributes I found important: All have a 5-axis motion with an arrangement to use a step-cutting bit for inside corners. This bit can also be used to cut out sinks but it is slow; taking an estimated 40 minutes for a typical 2-bowl kitchen sink. Most vendors claim you can saw more than 10 slabs in an 8-hour shift. To maximize production of the saw, the part layout and programming is done in the office. Part layout for stone with movement requires a photo-imaging system like Slabsmith and the time and effort to photograph the slabs. quote on a new machine typically includes the machine, options, shipping, installation, and training. When you are buying is a good time to ask about necessary spares and lean on the sales guy for a discount. New machine bids typically do not include rigging or the utility services in your building ,\,with electrical being the most expensive. 1. Guarding - all the European machines meet the "CE" guarding spec that requires an interlocked physical barrier between the operator and the machine’s work envelope when machine motion is enabled. US code is satisfied by an electronic "barrier." (If you choose to not install the CE guards and defeat the interlocks the employer is exposed to significant legal liability in the event of an injury.) 2. Saw motor HP - this ranges from 17hp to 25hp. Since a saw motor only draws slightly more current when sawing that when it is idling IMHO the extra hp of the larger motors is a questionable advantage. 3. All the current offerings have remote software support. Park, Northwood, Baca, Thibault and Sasso all have technical resources here in North America. (It sucks to have a European machine and have to wait until the middle of the night to talk to some, possible with poor English, to solve a problem.) 4. Most current offerings also have remote technical support that can look into the actual CNC controller and the I/O. This means in most cases a problem keeping you down can be diagnosed from afar and a part can be on the way to you same day. A tech might also be able to remotely "jumper out" a bad limit switch that is keeping you down until you get the replacement part. The important question here is whether or not the OEM has a sufficient parts inventory here in North America, such that any part you need can be overnighted to you. A given for USA machines but a necessary question for European machines. 5. Minimizing the path (and time) of step-cutting inside corners can be done by "super-plunging" the saw blade deep into the machine bed. This allows the saw cut to get closer to the corner and reduces the step-cutting path. Super-plunging does increase the bed maintenance but the people with those saws do not see it as a big issue; maybe 1/2 hour per week. Thibaut has an innovative reciprocating saw blade that connects the circular saw cut to the step-cutting bit path. I watched this in operation and it worked well. Machine-bed maintenance was essentially zero. 6. Some machines are 100% galvanized construction. For me that's a big plus, given rust issues I've had over the years with painted machines. Mark S. Custom Stone Interiors St. Cloud MN "I spent most of my money on motorcycles, women, and beer. The rest I wasted." author unknown