April 1, 2020 Custom Saw Manufacturing

The know-hows of custom saw manufacturing used in several industries with several applications.

Have you ever seen a magic show where the magician apparently ‘cuts’ his assistant or a volunteer from the audience into half? In this trick, the subject is made to lay down in a box and a saw blade cuts through creating the illusion that the said subject has been sliced into two. The magician only wants his audience to believe that the saw blade is sharp and extremely dangerous. Since this is just an illusion, the magician is not overly concerned about factors like whether a rip or cross-cut blade is used, the number and configuration of the teeth of the blade and their angle. However, if you work in a different industry where cutting and sawing is properly required and your work requires specialized cutting requirements, you might want to look for something a little less fake and a little more real. Like a package saw, and with that amazing segue put into place, let’s discuss.

Saw blades are used in several industries and have numerous applications, each with its unique set of requirements. Furniture, hardwood flooring, agriculture and automotive are examples of some industry applications using saw blades. Hence, there is a need for saw blades to be customized to satisfy the requirements of the particular application and ensure acceptable results.

The fundamental question that needs to be addressed is the type of material being cut. Whether it be wood, plastic or metal, identifying the material is the first step towards designing a custom saw.

Next, the type of cutting needs to be considered. Taking wood as an example, if the cut is to be made along the grain of the wood, then a ripping blade is more appropriate. However, if the cutting is across the grain of the wood, a cross-cut blade is better suited. Both ripping and cross-cutting applications can be used with either circle saw or band saw blades.

It is pertinent to point out here that the number of teeth and configuration of the teeth will generally determine how clean a cut is made. A cross-cutting blade has a higher concentration of teeth and a smaller gullet compared to a ripping blade thereby resulting in a cleaner cut. A combination blade is a compromise between these two main types of blades and depending on the application, can provide decent results.

It is also quite essential to be clear about the desired objectives from the use of your custom saw. Apart from the obvious purpose of cutting different materials, other considerations also need to be factored in. A longer blade life may be required in situations where frequent changing of the blade may not be feasible. Other situations where time is of the essence, a blade that ensures a reduced cutting time might be more appropriate.

Saw blades can be coated with a variety of materials resulting in various combinations of strength, performance and durability. For example, different variants of carbide coating result in corrosion-resistant or steel cutting properties. Similarly, cermet tipped saws can provide increased cutting speed. Along with this, special kerfs, thickness and diameters can also be specified.

Having adequate and clear information about the application and the desired result is fundamental when it comes to manufacturing a custom saw. Together with using high-quality raw material and a stringent manufacturing process, saws can be prepared that can meet the toughest of requirements ensuring a clean cut without chipping and burrs.

Subscribe to Industry Today