The process of manufacturing tombstone products, including the base and headstone, involves several detailed steps to ensure they meet the customer’s specifications:
1.
Material Selection and Quarrying
- Choosing the Stone: Typically, granite or marble is selected for its durability and aesthetic appeal.
- Quarrying: Large blocks of stone are extracted from quarries using wire saws, diamond-tipped blades, or water jets. These blocks are then transported to the processing facility.
2.
Cutting
- Block Cutting: The large stone blocks are cut into slabs using gang saws or diamond wire saws. These saws can cut multiple slabs simultaneously, ensuring efficiency.
- Slab Cutting: The slabs are then cut to the desired size and shape using bridge saws or CNC machines. This step ensures precision and adherence to the customer’s specifications.
3.
Shaping and Profiling
- Shaping: The slabs are further shaped into the base and headstone components. This can involve cutting the stone into specific designs or forms as requested by the customer.
- Edge Profiling: The edges of the slabs are smoothed and shaped using routers to create various edge profiles, such as bevelled or rounded edges.
4.
Polishing and Finishing
- Polishing: The surfaces of the slabs are polished using rotating pads with abrasive substances. The level of polish can vary from a matte finish to a high-gloss mirror finish, depending on customer preference.
- Surface Finishing: Additional surface finishes like honed, flamed, or brushed can be applied to achieve the desired texture and appearance.
5.
Customization and Engraving
- Design Application: A rubber stencil of the design is applied over the stone, and the design is transferred onto the stencil using carbon-backed layouts.
- Engraving: The design is carved into the stone using sandblasting or laser engraving techniques. This step can include inscriptions, images, or other decorative elements.
6.
Quality Control and Packaging
- Inspection: Each product undergoes a thorough inspection to ensure there are no defects or imperfections.
- Packaging: The finished products are carefully packaged to prevent damage during transportation to the customer
7.
Installation Preparation
- Final Customizations: Any final customizations, such as cutting holes for mounting or adding additional decorative elements, are completed.
- Ready for Installation: The tombstone products are now ready for installation by the customer or a professional installer.
