Abstract: A production system for producing a medical device from a tube includes a tube positioning device for positioning the tube. The tube positioning device is configured to hold the tube such that a portion of the tube extends from the tube positioning device along a longitudinal direction. A guiding device is used to guide the portion of the tube, and a laser cutting device is used to form the medical device from the portion of the tube. The guiding device comprises a plurality of bearing elements each configured to abut the portion of the tube and each having a convex curvature in a plane spanned by the longitudinal direction and a transverse direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction.

Abstract: An improved frame saw system has multiple blades for cutting slabs of masonry materials. The improved systems and methods allow for cutting masonry materials into slabs having surface small deviations. A frame saw system may include a support structure of unifying material bonded to at least one of the blades for keeping the blades in fixed relative positions. The support structure may be removable from the frame saw system as the blades are engaged in a swinging motion cutting into the block. In addition, a process for cutting masonry blocks of granite, marble, rock, and the like, includes pretreating the surface of the block with a skim coat to fill surface irregularities prior to cutting operations. A frame saw system may contain one or more spacers between the saw blades wherein a compressive force is applied across the blades connected to a frame to reduce deflection of the blades while cutting.

Abstract: Improved methods including providing a frame saw system having multiple blades for cutting slabs of masonry materials. The improved methods allow for cutting masonry materials into slabs having surface small deviations. A process for cutting masonry blocks of granite, marble, rock, and the like, also includes positioning a support structure of a unifying material perpendicularly across the blade of the frame saw, wherein the support structure is adhered to at least one of the blades for keeping the blades in fixed relative positions, subjecting the block to a sawing operation using the frame saw, and at least substantially removing the support structure as the blades become submerged in the block.

Abstract: An improved frame saw system has multiple blades for cutting slabs of masonry materials. The improved systems and methods allow for cutting masonry materials into slabs having surface small deviations. A frame saw system may include a support structure of unifying material bonded to at least one of the blades for keeping the blades in fixed relative positions. The support structure may be removable from the frame saw system as the blades are engaged in a swinging motion cutting into the block. In addition, a process for cutting masonry blocks of granite, marble, rock, and the like, includes pretreating the surface of the block with a skim coat to fill surface irregularities prior to cutting operations. A frame saw system may contain one or more spacers between the saw blades wherein a compressive force is applied across the blades connected to a frame to reduce deflection of the blades while cutting.

Abstract: An improved frame saw system has multiple blades for cutting slabs of masonry materials. The improved systems and methods allow for cutting masonry materials into slabs having surface small deviations. A frame saw system may include a support structure of unifying material bonded to at least one of the blades for keeping the blades in fixed relative positions. The support structure may be removable from the frame saw system as the blades are engaged in a swinging motion cutting into the block. In addition, a process for cutting masonry blocks of granite, marble, rock, and the like, includes pretreating the surface of the block with a skim coat to fill surface irregularities prior to cutting operations. A frame saw system may contain one or more spacers between the saw blades wherein a compressive force is applied across the blades connected to a frame to reduce deflection of the blades while cutting.

Abstract: Improved methods including providing a frame saw system having multiple blades for cutting slabs of masonry materials. The improved methods allow for cutting masonry materials into slabs having surface small deviations. A process for cutting masonry blocks of granite, marble, rock, and the like, also includes positioning a support structure of a unifying material perpendicularly across the blade of the frame saw, wherein the support structure is adhered to at least one of the blades for keeping the blades in fixed relative positions, subjecting the block to a sawing operation using the frame saw, and at least substantially removing the support structure as the blades become submerged in the block.

Abstract: A graphite block cut into slabs by a sawing device comprising a plurality of generally parallel, spaced-apart blades with each of the blades having a plurality of cutting segments mounted thereon, each of the cutting segments comprising a continuous phase impregnated with a superabrasive material selected from one of natural diamond, synthetic diamond, cubic boron nitride, and combinations thereof; wherein each of the granite slabs as cut from the block has a surface roughness Ra of less than 500 & micro-in, and with thickness variation of 2 mm or less from a nominal slab target.

Abstract: An improved frame saw system has multiple blades for cutting slabs of masonry materials. The improved systems and methods allow for cutting masonry materials into slabs having surface small deviations. A frame saw system may include a support structure of unifying material bonded to at least one of the blades for keeping the blades in fixed relative positions. The support structure may be removable from the frame saw system as the blades are engaged in a swinging motion cutting into the block. In addition, a process for cutting masonry blocks of granite, marble, rock, and the like, includes pretreating the surface of the block with a skim coat to fill surface irregularities prior to cutting operations. A frame saw system may contain one or more spacers between the saw blades wherein a compressive force is applied across the blades connected to a frame to reduce deflection of the blades while cutting.

Abstract: A graphite block cut into slabs by a sawing device comprising a plurality of generally parallel, spaced-apart blades with each of the blades having a plurality of cutting segments mounted thereon, each of the cutting segments comprising a continuous phase impregnated with a superabrasive material selected from one of natural diamond, synthetic diamond, cubic boron nitride, and combinations thereof; wherein each of the granite slabs as cut from the block has a surface roughness Ra of less than 500 ?-in, and with thickness variation of 2 mm or less from a nominal slab target.

Abstract: A graphite block cut into slabs by a sawing device comprising a plurality of generally parallel, spaced-apart blades with each of the blades having a plurality of cutting segments mounted thereon, each of the cutting segments comprising a continuous phase impregnated with a superabrasive material selected from one of natural diamond, synthetic diamond, cubic boron nitride, and combinations thereof; wherein each of the granite slabs as cut from the block has a surface roughness Ra of less than 500 ?-in, and with thickness variation of 2 mm or less from a nominal slab target.

Abstract: A horizontal frame saw is equipped with a plurality of generally parallel, spaced-apart blades for cutting granite. Each of the blades has a cutting edge with diamond cutting segments mounted thereon for engaging the granite with a swinging motion for cutting of the granite, wherein the segments have optimized/controlled segment variables for uniform wearing of the segments along each blade during cutting of granite. Segment variables include one or more of: spacing of segments along the length of the blade; diamond concentration in each segment; diamond grade (as measured by compressive fracture strength) in each segment; segment composition (bond, secondary abrasives); or segment dimensions.

Abstract: A graphite block cut into slabs by a sawing device comprising a plurality of generally parallel, spaced-apart blades with each of the blades having a plurality of cutting segments mounted thereon, each of the cutting segments comprising a continuous phase impregnated with a superabrasive material selected from one of natural diamond, synthetic diamond, cubic boron nitride, and combinations thereof; wherein each of the granite slabs as cut from the block has a surface roughness Ra of less than 500 ?-in, and with thickness variation of 2 mm or less from a nominal slab target.

Abstract: A graphite block cut into slabs by a sawing device comprising a plurality of generally parallel, spaced-apart blades with each of the blades having a plurality of cutting segments mounted thereon, each of the cutting segments comprising a continuous phase impregnated with a superabrasive material selected from one of natural diamond, synthetic diamond, cubic boron nitride, and combinations thereof; wherein each of the granite slabs as cut from the block has a surface roughness Ra of less than 500 ?-in, and with thickness variation of 2 mm or less from a nominal slab target.

Abstract: A horizontal frame saw is equipped with a plurality of generally parallel, spaced-apart blades for cutting granite. Each of the blades has a cutting edge with diamond cutting segments mounted thereon for engaging the granite with a swinging motion for cutting of the granite, wherein the segments have optimized/controlled segment variables for uniform wearing of the segments along each blade during cutting of granite. Segment variables include one or more of: spacing of segments along the length of the blade; diamond concentration in each segment; diamond grade (as measured by compressive fracture strength) in each segment; segment composition (bond, secondary abrasives); or segment dimensions.