Choosing the Right Circular Saw Blades
What is important selecting a saw blade?
The right saw blade is crucial for fast and effective sawing. By making the right selection, the lifespan of the blade can be extended and more output can be achieved. In short, use the correct saw blade for optimal results.
In this article we explain which variables are important and we explain how, depending on the product to be sawed, the correct saw blade can be selected.
Tooth pitch
The saw blade removes a small amount of material from the product with each tooth while sawing. Depending on the application, the correct number of teeth is determined: the tooth pitch (blade circumference / number of teeth).
The feed per tooth is the depth each tooth is inserted into the material. Tooth by tooth, more and more material is removed in order to cut through the product. This is indicated as mm/tooth.
To determine the correct feed, first determine what the longest cutting length (LCL) is. This is the point where in the diameter of the profile most material is removed by a tooth, depending on the shape and drop point of the saw. This is the moment when the saw blade has the highest load. With proportional sawing, the feed can be adjusted during the sawing stroke, so that at times with a lower load on the blade, the feed can be increased for more output and less wear.
The feed per tooth is the depth each tooth is inserted into the material. Tooth by tooth, more and more material is removed in order to cut through the product. This is indicated as mm/tooth.
To determine the correct feed, first determine what the longest cutting length (LCL) is. This is the point where in the diameter of the profile most material is removed by a tooth, depending on the shape and drop point of the saw. This is the moment when the saw blade has the highest load. With proportional sawing, the feed can be adjusted during the sawing stroke, so that at times with a lower load on the blade, the feed can be increased for more output and less wear.
Tooth Load Ratio
Tooth Load Ratio (TLR) during sawing, the space between the teeth fills with material, at the end of the saw cut this is 10%-25%. Too high a feed rate or LCL can cause overfilling, resulting in damage to the blade such as high wear or even broken teeth.
The correct tooth pitch can be selected based on the feed, LCL and the TLR and the operator can fine-tune the feed during the sawing process.
Cutting speed
The cutting speed, determined by the circumference x RPM/min, can be adjusted to speed up the cutting time. This shortens the cycle time to achieve higher production. The operator must determine the optimal setting. Too high a speed results in higher wear. Production can be increased by using high-quality saw blades (TCT) or special blade coating.
Saw blade material
Two different types of saw blades are usually used for sawing on automatic cutting lines. HSS (high speed steel) is a blade made of high-quality steel, often provided with a protective coating, with good wear resistance. These blades can be resharpened several times, reducing the cost per cut.
TCT (Tungsten Carbide Tipped) blades have teeth to which carbide tips are welded. These particularly hard tips are suitable for sawing at higher speeds, for hard materials and are extremely durable. The disadvantage is that these blades cannot be re-whipped and the costs are higher than HSS blades.
Choose the right saw blade
If you really want to optimize your sawing process, you need more than one blade. There is no “one blade fits all’’.
To help you choose the right blade for the job, Bewo has developed the Cutting Wizard. This online selection tool provides advice based on the type of saw and product, so that a blade can be easily selected.
