Effective production cutting is successful production cutting.
Making sure the bandsaw is in proper working order and that the correct saw blade is installed prior to starting work equates to being efficient, which then equates to being successful.
Effective production cutting can be achieved through the use of the correct bandsaw blade.
In order to effectively cut a specific material for a specific job, or to properly maintain the bandsaw machine to be used for the job, the right saw blade is imperative.
Two factors to consider when choosing the right blade for the material are speed and feed rates.
Speed and feed rates are important to help achieve effective production cutting. The two combined impact not only the result of production but saw blade life as well.
Speed and Feed refer to two separate velocities in machine tool practice that are often considered a duo as a result of their having a combined influence on the cutting process.
Speed rate pertains to the speed difference between the cutting tool and the surface of the work piece it is operating on. It is measured in Surface Feet Per Minute (SFPM) and is controlled using the fixed, variable, variable pulley, and electronic drive.
Considering speed rate becomes useful during the cutting process and why an operator should optimize this factor in order to maximize blade life and cutting performance.
In optimizing blade speed, the rule of thumb is 100-200-300.
- For Hard Materials — set the blade speed to start at 100 S.F.P.M. running at 98.425 feet/min
- For Medium Materials — set the blade speed to start at 200 S.F.P.M running at 196.85 feet/min
- For Soft Materials — set the blade speed to start at 300 S.F.P.M running at 328.083333 feet/min
After setting the speed at the correct start-up rate, slowly adjust to the recommended rate in order to obtain the desired result.
Feed rate is relative to the velocity at which the saw blade is advanced along the work piece. It is controlled by the hydraulic feed cylinder, cylinder bleed off, constant feed, and the air over hydraulics.
The feed should be steady and smooth to obtain a desirable outcome in the cutting process. Just like speed rate, an operator should use the recommended feed rate in order to maximize blade life and achieve effective production.
Using a high feed rate compared to the recommended rate will most likely result in the saw blade’s teeth being stripped. Feed rate is related to speed rate, which is also related with tooth penetration.
It is essential for the bandsaw machine operator to understand these differences in order to prolong the life of the blade and obtain successful production output.
Feed and Speed Rates are important factors to consider in order to realize the goal of effective production cutting.
