PSC-150 Pneumatic Stone Cutter

Alpha® is excited to introduce a new industrial quality pneumatic stone cutter, called the PSC-150, which is equipped with a 2 hp motor, with a speed governor in the motor that regulates the air consumption according to the torque needed for the application. This regulation includes producing enough torque to cut 1-1/4” (3cm) stone slabs in one pass. In addition, Alpha® recognized the need for an industrial quality portable stone cutter that is capable of miter cutting of 1-1/4” (3cm) materials with ease, so that any stone fabricator can use it when miter cuts are required, without time-consuming setup. Since it is a pneumatic powered motor, you can save the repair and maintenance costs of electric stone cutters when sink-hole cutting and groove-cutting for rodding applications. Alpha® offers a carriage that retrofits on the Alpha® Guide Rail System to support the application of making precise miter cuts for the perfect lamination. The PSC-150 offers kink-free water and air hoses to improve the maneuverability of the stone cutter. The flexibility of the hoses helps reduce operator fatigue and improves the operation. To ensure a long maintenance interval, we also recommend using the manifold system that comes with a regulator and filter to catch the debris and moisture delivered by compressed air. The Alpha® PSC-150 comes with an Eclipse II 6” blade which is the recommended turbo blade for granite and engineered stone. It can utilize a variety of consumables including the Alpha® Katana 6” for porcelain panels and slabs, Hot-Rod 4” for 1/4” steel rods and 1/8” fiber glass rods. For marble applications, a Libero 5” blade is recommended since most marble slabs are 3/4” (2cm) thick or less.

Question : What kind of compressor do I need in order to use the PSC-150?

Answer : Since PSC-150 may consume up to 32.8 CFM, you can’t use it with 5 hp two-stage compressor that is commonly found in a garage. The PSC-150 is designed for industrial use at the stone fabricator where you can find a rotary screw air compressor with large enough CFM for the stone cutter. I would say minimum of 7.5 hp is required for one stone cutter to get maximum torque.

Question : Can I use a 3” Hot-Rod that I have been using for rodding?

Answer : Yes you can. However, due to the position of spindle, you may not be able to get sufficient depth of cut due to the limitation of diameter, therefore, we recommend 4” Hot-Rod series.

Question : I have attached a ½” air hose to stone cutter but it seems that I am not getting maximum power. What can I look at to make an improvement?

Answer : First, you have to have large enough compressor with sufficient air tank available in good working condition. You also have to have at least ½” pipe to deliver the compressed air to the workstation where your lead in hose is connected. You must also pay attention to the length of pipe from the compressor to the workstation. The longer the pipeline, the stronger compressor and reserve tank are required.

Question : Can I use PSC-150 at the jobsite?

Answer : As long as you have required compressed air available, you can use PSC-150 at the jobsite. You may find air compressor with diesel engine designed for machine like jack hammer that should be more than enough.

Question : What kind of maintenance do I have to do on PSC-150?

Answer : Alpha® recommends daily oil from the designated oil port at the end of job to lubricate the motor. We also recommend cleaning/changing the muffler from time-to-time to keep noise down during the operation.

Question : Can I use PSC-150 as dry stone cutter?

Answer : Yes you can. However, Alpha® recommends wet cutting method to keep dust down to reduce silica exposure, or using it dry with a sufficient dust collection system.

Question : Why do we list CFM and SCFM for air consumption in specification?

Answer : Unlike other pneumatic tools, PSC-150 comes with the speed governor in the motor that regulates the air consumption according to the torque needed for the application. When you start the motor with no load, it takes 4.6 CFM constantly. However, the speed governor regulates the air valve to try to maintain maximum rpm according to the needed torque for the application. An example would be if you are cutting soft and thin marble, CFM will not increase very much, but when you are miter cutting 1-1/4” (3cm) hard granite, it will increase accordingly. When the speed governor has opened the air valve to the max, it will consume 32.8 CFM and produce 2.0 hp to accommodate the demanding requirement.