The proper and necessary procedure for bandsaw wheel alignment will not only help to maintain the life of a saw blade but the bandsaw machine as well.
A misaligned bandsaw wheel will cause the saw blade to move during cutting, which will result in unacceptable production output. Bandsaw wheel alignment will fix these issues.
Inspecting production cuts is the simplest way to decide if the bandsaw is cutting properly, and improper cut suggests wheel alignment issues.
Bandsaw operators should double-check each cut for viability. The bandsaw wheel will need to be cleaned, oiled, or replaced if the work piece varies in size at different points. Hearing sounds emanating from the machine while it is in operation will also suggest that the wheels be cleaned and oiled. The noise likely indicates dirt and dust accumulation.
Wear safety goggles and gloves to avoid injury prior to removing the bandsaw blade and make sure to unplug the bandsaw prior to any maintenance procedure.
Open the bandsaw door to access to the bandsaw blade.
Carefully tilt the bandsaw so that a ruler or straight edge can slide across both the bottom and top wheels, and assure that it is long enough to lay across both wheels at the same time. Take note that certain models may require that the table be completely disconnected from the bandsaw for this maintenance step.
Check the alignment between the top and bottom bandsaw wheels and the installed blade to assure that the bandsaw blade is installed correctly. Double-check measurements for the correct data. Measurements will be off if there isn’t a bandsaw blade available.
Once the misaligned wheel is detected, it is time to remove the bandsaw blade and the misaligned wheel.
Operators should make sure that they add and attach the right amount of shims behind the wheel to make sure that both the top and bottom of the wheels are aligned correctly. Double-check the work and then re-attach the wheel to the bandsaw.
Install the bandsaw blade and re-check measurements. The work is done if the measurements are correct. If not, then repeat the process until satisfactory results are achieved.
