Machine for cutting a slab with finished face down and related method

A machine for processing a stone or a stone-like slab having side edges and a finished face and bottom surface, comprising:

• a frame defining a slab processing area in which the slab to be processed extends along an X and Y coordinate axis;
• a work table positioned at the slab processing area, including vacuum pods on the work table on which the slab is positioned with the finished face down for cutting, said slab being oriented with a mirror imaged slab cut layout that is based upon a slab cut layout on the finished face of the slab;
• a bridge supported for movement on the frame across the slab processing area;
• a carriage mounted on the bridge, said carriage configured for vertical movement along a Z coordinate axis and horizontal movement on the bridge to define movement of a lower end of the carriage along the X, Y and Z coordinate axes;
• a machine yoke rotatably mounted at the lower end of the carriage and configured for C-axis rotation, said machine yoke comprising opposing support arms;
• a machining head rotatably mounted between the support arms and configured for A-axis rotation, said machining head comprising a spindle configured to mount a circular saw blade for respective cutting on the slab when positioned upside down on the vacuum pods;
• at least one drive mechanism connected to the bridge, carriage, machine yoke and machining head;
• and
• a controller connected to the at least one drive mechanism and configured to control movement of the bridge, carriage, machine yoke and machining head to cut the side edges of the slab upside down while positioned on the vacuum pods by following the mirror imaged slab cut layout to form a substantially finished slab having outside edge trim relief strips remaining from the side edges;
• and
• relief supports positioned on the work table under the side edges to support the outside edge trim relief strips during cutting and prevent chipping or damage to the exterior side of the substantially finished slab.

A method of processing a stone or a stone-like slab having side edges and a finished face and bottom surface, comprising:

• positioning the slab with the finished face down on vacuum pods positioned on a work table and oriented with a mirror imaged slab cut layout that is based upon a slab cut layout on the finished face of the slab;
• cutting with a circular saw blade mounted on a spindle the rough cut side edges of the slab upside down while positioned on the vacuum pods by following the mirror imaged slab cut layout to form a substantially finished slab and having outside edge trim relief strips remaining from the side edges;
• and
• supporting the outside edge trim relief strips during cutting adjacent to the final cut slab to prevent chipping or damage to the exterior side of the substantially finished slab.