Tracking
Tracking the blade means positioning it on the wheels so it will not come off during operation, thus providing efficient cutting that is effective at the same time. This is usually done by adjust- ing the tilt of the upper wheel.
Blade tracking is one of the most important adjustments you can make for optimal perfor- mance of your bandsaw. A properly tracked blade produces very little vibration and heat, and reduces the chance of binding and wander- ing when cutting.
There are two ways to track the blade on your bandsaw: Center tracking and coplanar track- ing. Always make sure that your blade is ten- sioned to the degree that it will be used during operation before adjusting tracking.
To track the blade using center tracking:
1.With the bandsaw unplugged from the power source, open the wheel covers. Move the guide blocks and rear support bearings away from the blade.
2.With one hand on the tracking knob (see “Location of Controls” in this manual if you need to identify this), slowly rotate the upper wheel and watch where the blade rides on the tire of the wheel. If the blade gets too close to the edge, you may need to adjust the tracking knob so it does not come off when you spin the wheel. Turning the tracking knob clockwise makes the upper wheel tilt forward and turning counter- clockwise makes it tilt backward.
3.Spin the wheel and turn the tracking knob in the appropriate direction so the blade rides as close to the center of the tire as possible. See Figure 32.
4.Readjust the guide blocks and rear support bearings.
Read the next section for coplanar tracking.
Figure 32. Blade centered on wheel.
NOTICE
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