A robotics firm in Carrara, Italy, has completed a full-scale marble statue of the Greek goddess Tyche using advanced automation, a milestone that underscores how stone carving is moving beyond purely handwork.
According to Mjengo Hub, the company used a Computer Numerical Control system with a multi-axis robotic arm to mill the sculpture from a single block of Carrara marble, with limited human intervention. Technicians supported the front end with AI-powered software that calculated tool paths in the cloud, allowing the machine to carve complex contours without constant manual programming.
The robotic arm used diamond-coated milling heads and heavy-duty electrospindles designed for quarry workshop conditions. The founders, Giacomo Massari and Filippo Tincolini, said a key goal is reducing physical strain for workers and cutting exposure to hazardous airborne silica dust during labor-intensive stone tasks.
Even with the automation, the work is not fully hands-off. The machine reportedly handles about 99% of bulk material removal, leaving delicate texture and final surface adjustments to experienced craftspeople. That split is an important detail for mason contractors and stone specialists weighing where robotics fits into real production schedules.
The article notes that automated stone milling is expanding beyond fine art into structural masonry and architectural restoration, including scanning historic artifacts to produce precise replicas for damaged heritage sites. For contractors, the practical takeaway is that digital fabrication starts with clean, buildable 3D models and clear expectations on finish quality. It also requires planning for human finishing time, verifying safety controls around dust and tool wear, and coordinating handling and installation so carved stone pieces arrive protected and fit as intended.
Read the full, original article from Mjengo Hub here.