Curved Stonework Makes a Comeback

For decades, curved stonework belonged to the eras of the past. Roman and Gothic architecture served as prime examples of work carved by hand in natural stone, with even more artistic wonders emerging from the Renaissance.

Now, a new renaissance is on the rise. This time, crafted by sophisticated CNC machines.

With architects increasingly specing curved staircases, arches, and rounded features, stone shops across Australia are wandering outside their comfort zone. Those who have experience producing monuments and artistic works are at an advantage, having honed their craft through endless experiments using a variety of tools, textures, and machine settings.

On the other hand, stonemasons looking to break into this type of work are facing a learning curve (pun intended). But don’t worry – we’re more than happy to guide you along the way.

CNC machines for curved stonework

By nature, curved stonework is complex. Where a standard 3-axis CNC mill or waterjet did the job for most orders over the past decade or so, the more complex nature of non-linear work requires a CNC machine with a greater number of axes.

Look for at least 4.

Stone CNC machines like the CMS Maxima, which are used for crafting complex monuments and sculptural work, are ideal for these situations. The 5/6 interpolated axes carves and mills from twice as many angles as standard machines, enabling shops to match the effects found in historical buildings.

The Maxima was specifically built for this type of work – though not all shops need it. Some factories do very well with a 5 axis machining centre, multi-axis waterjet head, or a 5-axis bridgesaw.

If you have any of the above, making the switch the curved work is a question of time, trials, and tooling know-how. If you don’t, it’s time to explore further.

Weight up your options

Trends in architecture, like in all design, come and go. That said, architectural trends emerge from shifts in our way of life, and we’re in the middle of long-term change now.

With more people moving to outer suburbs and rural areas where more room is available, it’s easy to see why curved stonework is on the rise. With that in mind, demand for such work isn’t likely to go down anytime soon.

curved stone staircase and archway

So, if you’re questioning whether or not the investment in a new stone CNC is worthwhile, we’d say it is.

The beauty of the above CNCs is that, with 5-6 interpolated axes, you can machine almost anything. That, in times of change, is a valuable asset to have.

On the other hand, a standard 3-axis machine leaves you locked in to linear work. The gap is evident.

While curved work isn’t for everyone, those who get into it get to grow. Skills wide, production wise, and revenue wise. The only downside is time spent looking for a machine and learning how to do the work required.

The latter we’ll leave to you – and the former, we’ll gladly help you with. Reach out if you’re ready to get started.