Choosing a band saw blade for metal

The band saw blade is a key element that determines the quality of the cut and the capabilities of the machine. The material in this article will help the reader decide on the choice of metal tape and tell you what to look for when buying.

A band saw blade for metal is a flexible cutting blade in the shape of a ring, which can have different types of teeth. It is they who play a key role in the selection of this element of the band saw machine. The blade is used for cutting in metalworking. At the same time, it is used both on household and industrial equipment.

The band saw blade is distinguished by such criteria as the material from which it is made, the shape of the teeth, the setting option. The tape itself is made of high-carbon monolithic steel or bimetallic alloy. Steel products with tensile strength of up to 80 MPa are used when cutting non-ferrous metal, steel and cast iron blanks. Such canvases are used on cantilever and single-column units for professional and semi-professional purposes.

Bimetallic strips are used on high-power two-column equipment. Such products are characterized by a complex design, have a flexible spring steel strip with high-speed steel teeth. The hardness of such blades is approximately 950 HV. Their prongs are located in sockets and are fixed by means of electron beam soldering. These options are suitable for cutting solid workpieces, cope with iron and steel of the hardest alloys.

More specifically, for cutting high-carbon steel, you need to take blades made of composite alloys of the M-51 brand. For medium and low carbon belts of the bimetallic type M-42 are suitable. SP should be used when long-term work with heat-resistant steel is planned. The TST options are suitable for working with titanium and nickel workpieces.

There is no one-size-fits-all product that can satisfy all customer needs. Therefore, when buying, you will have to pay attention to a number of points. For example, the width must be selected based on the type of work. It varies in the range of 14-80 mm. The standard is considered to be 31-41 mm models. In order not to get confused, you can refer to the instructions for the existing machine. As a rule, it always indicates the main characteristics of the desired canvas. By following the specific parameters, you can purchase the right option, thanks to which the machine will work with high productivity.

The teeth of the cutting band have a special arrangement. It is not straight, but deviated to the sides from the plane of the main belt. The type of such an arrangement is called a wiring, which can be different. Today it is divided into three types: straight, wavy and alternating.

The alternate deflection of the teeth to the right and left sides allows for a wider cut. This prevents the tape from getting caught in the workpiece being processed. More often today they buy canvases in which the layout is as follows:

• right, straight, left;
• right, left in turn;
• wave with a change in the angle of inclination of the tooth.

Blades of the first type are used in work with packages of solid blanks, pipes and profiles. The second option is considered universal, however, as practice shows, it shows itself better when working with soft metals. The third type of wiring is used when working with thin-walled pipes and small-sized workpieces.

The shape of the teeth of the band blades also varies. The developed standard solutions allow you to choose an option, taking into account the needs of the buyer.

• NORMAL serrated edge located upward relative to the canvas. This form does not have a chamfer; it is used when cutting high-carbon steel parts.
• HOOK has a frontal tilt of 10 degrees. Solid rods of different sections made of alloy steel can be cut with such teeth. Also, this blade can cut thick-walled workpieces.
• Option RP characterized by a 16-degree inclination of the cutting edge. Blades with this form of teeth are bought for working with non-ferrous alloys. You can also use such a tape for cutting difficult-to-cut grades.
• MASTER form considered universal and most common. Its slope of the chamfer can be 10 and 15 degrees, there is also a grinding of the longitudinal edge, which allows you to reduce the roughness of the processed edge.

Blades for metal band saws can also differ in the number of teeth. The choice of the pitch directly affects the quality of the cut. With a constant pitch, the number of teeth can range from 2 to 32 per inch. In this case, the greater their number, the smaller should be the cutting thickness of the workpiece. In analogs with a variable pitch, the number of teeth varies from 2 to 14 per 1 inch. The choice of the correct tooth pitch is selected taking into account the thickness of the walls of the pipes and profiles, with which you will have to work in the future.

The cutting mode will depend on different parameters. One of them is the processed material. You will have to take into account the steel group and alloy, as well as the size of the part itself and the tooth pitch. Here you will have to choose a specific brand, since this factor also determines the quality and efficiency of the canvas.

The rotation speed of the belts is not the same, sellers will indicate this when buying. It is also important to decide on the feed rate of the band, since ideally each saw tooth should cut a chip of a specific thickness. Each machine has its own set speed, and therefore you will have to select the desired value based on this. Of course, you can go experimentally, buy a tape and look at its efficiency already on shavings. However, it is better to initially select the desired option, because the quality of the work performed directly depends on this. In addition, it is important to understand that the performance of the web and its resource are not endless.

Belt speed and feed are considered key criteria. Based on them, they select the modifications of the canvases, the pitch of the teeth, and the setting.

For equipment to work most efficiently, it must be stable. To do this, it is leveled horizontally. The voltage and current of the mains supply must be correlated with the operating voltage and current of the machine. It is important to check the direction of rotation of the saw band before use. In addition, a visual inspection of the equipment for damage is required. Sometimes it is necessary to tighten the tape according to the manufacturer's instructions.

The machine is started and a cutting cycle is carried out without material. At this time, attention is paid to the functionality of the machine, smooth start-up and the operation of other units. The machine has special buttons for starting and stopping.The material can only be cut when it is clamped.

For information on how to choose band saw blades, see the next video.