A diamond-tipped bandsaw blade has diamond grit on the tip of each tooth. the dust offers added durability and a faster cut on harder materials like agates, opals, stone, and any absolute abrasive materials.
Diamond-tipped blades are composed of two basic elements: circular sheet steel and the diamond-impregnated dust. The latter has three different forms: continuous, castellated, and segmented. Diamond-tipped bandsaw blades remain the tool of choice for most machining processes.
The diamond dust teeth are coated by electroplating, a process in which an electrical current deposits the coating onto the blade, producing a hard, brittle Ni (Nickel) matrix. The matrix keeps the diamond dust in place and allows for precise cutting on a variety of materials.
The diamonds used to manufacture the blades are exclusive to the industry and come in different shapes, sizes, and qualities depending on the type of materials to be cut using that particular blade. Extreme high temperature is required to achieve a solid metal alloy, when the diamond grain mixture and the metallic powder are compressed.
As with other saw blades, the diamond-dust variety has pro and con issues. Scenarios that may affect performance deserve some careful consideration.
The diamond saw blade is designed for cutting concrete. Allowing the equipment take charge in guiding the blade will provide the needed energy to cut the segments. Speak with a diamond blade professional if there are any questions.
A decent blade is required to achieve cut accuracy. Based on material size, use a ½” wide blade with a 6 TPI and make a sliding table for better performance. Use a carbon blade for wood, a bi-metal blade for soft metals, and for hard metals use a carbide tipped blade.
In most sawing applications, knowing what will be cut and deciding how the material will be cut are prerequisite to any process. Determine material size in order to find the right TPI. A minimum of 3 teeth in a cut, optimum 12 teeth, and a maximum of 24 teeth. Choose the optimum TPI in order to maximize blade life.
The experienced, professional operator knows the options based on what is going to be cut with regard to how much the recommended guidelines can be varied for TPI.
Check out a variety of tooth pitches at Sawblade.com for agates, opals, and stones using a diamond-tipped saw blade.
