Model SB1040/SB1041 | O P E R A T I O N | For Machines Mfg. Since 8/09 |
Blade Breakage
Many conditions may cause a bandsaw blade to break. Blade breakage is unavoidable, in some cases, since it is the natural result of the peculiar stresses that bandsaw blades must endure. Blade breakage is also due to avoidable circumstances. Avoidable blade breakage is most often the result of poor care or judgment on the part of the operator when mounting or adjusting the blade or support guides.
The most common causes of blade breakage are:
sFaulty alignment or adjustment of the blade guides.
sForcing or twisting a wide blade around a tight radius.
sFeeding the workpiece too fast.
sDull or damaged teeth.
s
sTop blade guide assembly set too high above the workpiece. Adjust the top blade guide assembly so that there is approximately
Note: The blade guide assembly can be lowered to within 21⁄2" of the table surface.
sUsing a blade with a lumpy or improperly finished braze or weld.
sContinuously running the bandsaw when not in use.
sLeaving the blade tensioned when not in use.
sUsing the wrong blade pitch (TPI) for the workpiece thickness. The general rule of thumb is to have no fewer than two teeth in contact with the workpiece at all times during cutting.
Blade Care & Break-In
Blade Care
A bandsaw blade is a delicate piece of steel that is subjected to tremendous strain. A bandsaw blade will last longer if you give it fair treatment and always use the appropriate feed rate for your operation.
Be sure to select blades with the proper width, set, type, and pitch for each application. The wrong blade will produce unnecessary heat and have a shortened life.
A clean blade will perform much better than a dirty blade. Dirty or gummed up blades pass through the cutting material with much more resistance than clean blades. This extra resistance also causes unnecessary heat.
Blade Break-In
The tips and edges of a new blade are extremely sharp. Cutting at too fast of a feed rate can fracture these tips and edges, causing the blade to quickly become dull. Properly
To properly break-in a new blade:
1.Choose the correct speed for the blade and material of the operation.
2.Reduce the feed pressure by half for the first
3.To avoid twisting the blade when cutting, adjust the feed pressure when the total width of the blade is in the cut.
4.Use the Chip Inspection Chart on Page 29 to ensure that the optimal blade speed and feed rate are being used.