Bandsaw Basics: Bench Top Bandsaws

Knowing the best tools for the job is necessary to get it done and today, we’re going to give you a give you some tips about bench top bandsaws.

The first question is, what are Bench-top Bandsaws? For others who don’t know, they are the smallest of the power tools and can be mounted directly on a work table, a stand, and cabinet or on your shop-made stand. These Bandsaws are lightweight and with a wheel diameter of about 8” to 12”. However, they are not ideal for big projects. You can use them for small projects and in small workshops.

The main feature of this type of saw is that the motor is mounted directly to the unit, there is no belt system under the table. With its lightweight and small size, there are no exceptions like the 12” Jet and the 14” Shop Fox.

For several years, the bench-top saws were made with the three-wheel design, but these old models were phased out. The thing with the three-wheel saw, it offers the widest throat in the least amount of space, but the only drawback was its design such as:

·                 Difficulty in aligning the wheels

·                 Difficulty in tracking the blades

·                 Premature “blade wear” as reported by some users.

Here is a list of Bench-top bandsaws:

·         Craftsman BAS230 9-inch Band Saw

·         Ryobi BS903 9-inch Band Saw

·         Skil 3386 9-inch Band Saw

·         Central Machinery 96980 9-inch Band Saw

·         RIKON 10-305 10-inch Band Saw

·         Craftsman 21400 10-inch Band Saw

·         Proxxon MBS/E Band Saw

·         JET JWBS-10OS 10-inch Band Saw

There is no ultimate bench-top bandsaw. These types of bench-top bandsaws have their own unique features and depending on the type of work you need for them. Also, some of you may decide not just based on the type of work to be used, but also the price. And if you are looking for some bandsaw blades, visit us at www.capitalmachinery.com.au. 

Bandsaw Basics: Blades for Operation

Band saw tooth blades are available in different shapes, each with their own characteristics. In this section, we will be discussing about the different tooth types of the blades for our band saw machines.

1.       Regular tooth

This tooth is straight face with deep gullets to rake out chips. It is usually used for general metal cutting with straight rake.

2.       Hook tooth

It is equipped with deep gullets and widely spaced teeth with a 10 degree undercut face that helps to dig in and take a good cut while the gullets curl the chips. This tooth is good for cutting non-ferrous alloys, non-metallic materials, plastics and wood.

3.       Skip tooth 

It is similar to the hook tooth but characterized by a straight 90 degree tooth and a sharp angle at the junction of the tooth and gullet to break up chips. This type is well suited for non-ferrous materials, metals, wood and plastics.

4.       Variable tooth (Bi-Metal)

It is usually known as broach tooth or vari-tooth. This has different set angles and gullet depths. The cutting edge of the variable tooth reduces any vibration while the back absorbs the impacts of cutting and out of holes, slots and narrow webs. This is the best all-purpose blade when it comes to production and general shop cutting and contour. Use it for cutting of solid bars and structural bars.

Next is how to properly select the right number of teeth. Generally picking a coarse tooth (having a lesser number of teeth per inch (TPI)) for large sections and soft metals. For the finer tooth (more teeth per inch), it’s typically made for small sections and harder metals. Observe the rules illustrated below.

Different Tooth Sets                                                             

1.       RAKER SET

If you look into one, this has one tooth set to the right, one tooth set to the left and one tooth is aligned straight. This is mainly used for most production cutting of thick, solid metal sections on horizontal saws.

2.       WAVY SET

This has teeth set in groups with gradual increasing set to left and right. It is generally composed of several teeth per inch and is mainly used for cutting thin sections such as sheets, tubes, pipes and small shapes.

Bandsaw Maintenance Part 2

Since we’ve discuss the blades on our first blog series, we’re going to discuss 3 items for today which is the equipment condition and type, the coolant and the operator’s skill.

1.       Equipment Condition and Type

As is always the case, keeping your equipment well-maintained and vibration-free will ensure accuracy and longer blade life. Blade wear patterns may be a sign that a wheel adjustment is needed or guides are worn and are causing problems. If this happens, make sure to make the right move and inspect the machine before using it. If you aren’t capable, make sure to call in some experts to do the checking for you.

The type of the machine you are also using is important. For example, there are parts that aren’t the same with other bandsaw machines. You might want to do some research on your machine by typing in the serial number on search engines or reading the manual. You can also take some advice from the experts.

2.       Coolant

During the bandsaw operation, the blade and the metal creates friction and produces heat. Heat is the number one cause why you blade isn’t cutting well. It is important to choose the right coolant for your cutting applications. Choosing the proper coolant will help you improve the cut and also the life of your saw blades.

3.       Operator Skill

Like with any job, knowing your equipment and understanding the operation and processes, as well as being able to troubleshoot or get service when equipment fails, are vital to the success of your company. Being properly trained and having the correct resources are also contributing factors to the success of your company.

Following are just a few skills necessary to ensure continued productivity:

•Ability to observe the cut to ensure the down feed is correct, especially if you’re using a manual feed system

•Ability to make different types of cuts when using a manual down feed band saw

•Ability to read the chips to determine if the blade and equipment are cutting properly

•Ability to identify equipment problems and get assistance or service

Bandsaw Machine Maintenance Part 1

Band saw Machines are integral part of a machine or metal fabrication shops. But maintenance is also important to keep the process running without delays. Today, we’re going to start with our blog series on different ways to maintain your band saw machine.

First, we’re going to discuss about band saw blades. The Band saw blade’s teeth are exposed to different stress in different angles when cutting structural steel. For example, you are cutting a piece of steel tube, the blade is required to cut through two walls thus causing damage. The tooth is being release in a forward motion by both the speed and the downward motion of the feed pressure. Similar shocks occur when cutting other shapes such as angles, channels and I-beams.

In other cases, solids or shapes strikes a number of pass is increasing considerably. Thus, this repeated impact and the stress from cutting these heavy duty materials can cause the teeth of the band saw to crack and destroyed.

The no. 1 reason these band saw blades fail in fabrication shops is the repetitive shocks or impacts on the blade, and not through excessive use.

Another reason for a blade to worn out is heat and friction. If you are not using coolants or fluid, you might want to reconsider using one. It can help disperse heat and prevents chips from getting stuck.

 It is NOT possible for just one blade to work well for every purpose like a jack of all trades as you might say. 

You need to know the type of band saw blade that is strong enough to resist the forces being applied to it while providing a smooth cut without having the need for any secondary applications such as filing and grinding.

For our next article, we’ll be discussing different types of blades according to the material to be cut. If you are looking for bandsaws, don’t hesitate to visit us at www.capitalmachinery.com.au. 

Shear Blade Essentials

Buying a shear blade is easier than ever through online stores that offers different methods of payment. Since it is easy to buy shear blades, it doesn’t mean that you should take this decision lightly. The quality of the blade really matters and knowing how to take care of the blade is just as important as buying a good one. Luckily, keeping a blade sharp, clean and fresh is fairly simple.

Today, we’re going to give you some tips on how to maintain your very own shear blade.

Set the Blade and Clearance Properly

If you are starting with your cutting process, make sure to set the blade properly first. Setting the shear blade properly is a main key to extending the blade’s life and machinery efficiency. Set proper clearance to ensure proper cut quality. Before setting the blade, check the blade seat is flat to ensure that the tooling is set properly to eliminate blade chipping during shifting of the machine.

Clearance is also important for blades. If the clearance is too high, metal jams between the blade and machine. If the blade has no clearance at all, it will break. Setting the clearance are too loose will cause premature wear and failure.

Basic Maintenance Plan

Here are some of our recommendations for your basic maintenance plan:

The Air system should be properly maintained to ensure clean air. Regulators should also be maintained to help the pneumatic mechanism to properly function.

Lubrication should be checked before you begin operation. The lubrication system should be cleaned, filled and properly filtered.

Machine clutch and brakes must be examined for lining, thickness, clearances and signs of failure. If these are worn out, they should be replaced immediately to avoid costly repairs.

Air leaks or failure on the counterbalance cylinders should be dealt with immediately.

Repair Immediately

Call in the experts quickly if you find unusual wear or need for adjustment.  Disastrous failures often start with little problems that are ignored. Addressing these problems quickly is less expensive in the long term.

Getting A Good Deal on Industrial Press Brakes

The cost of buying a new industrial press brake is very expensive and you need a lot of capital for your business to purchase one. Since it is not easy to buy a new one without shelling a good amount of money, there are great ways to get a deal with this type of machine believe it or not. Here are some tips you can follow.

Buy One on an Auction Site

Many people or business owners never considered this option but there are several online auction sites that offer industrial press brakes. Since the price starts pretty reasonable and is only driven up when many people bid on it, there’s a chance that you can get one for far less than you would if you purchased one at the regular price.

Consider Used Equipment

Used equipment are also perfect if you don’t have the budget to buy a new machine. It can be good as new as long as it is maintained properly and think of it as an advantage on your financial standpoint. There are plenty of used machine are still in great shape and looking at a few to see if they can fit your needs is a great start.

Get an Older Model

Business owners are always rushing to get the newest models on the market but sometimes the older models are just as good. Sometimes the changes are so subtle that they barely make a difference when it comes to performance. If you see something that you like, wait until it is older then go make a purchase. The price is more reasonable by that time.

As you were told earlier, it is quite possible to get a good deal when you are in the market for this equipment. It is not always necessary to spend a bundle to get what you need.

Safety Measures when Using Metal Working Fluids

When cutting different types of metal, we use coolants to help eliminate heat that is caused by friction. Also, metal working fluids helps lubricate metal working machines for optimal working process. But, working with coolants is also known to be dangerous and can cause injuries if not handled properly. With Knowledge and awareness we can prevent hazards when using Metal Working Fluids.  Here are some safety measures you should remember.

·         Make sure to check the manual and have proper training provided by your employer on the safety system of work especially when working with metalworking fluids.

·         Don’t forget to use splashguards if provided to control any splashes or mist.

·         Minimize the mist production if possible as well as vapor through volume control and delivery rate of the fluid to the cutting edge of the tool.

·         Ventilation is important for any enclosures to help remove or control the mist coming out of the machine.

·         You should allow some time delay before you open the doors on these machine enclosures to make sure that all the vapors have settled or removed by the ventilation. Do not rush right away and leave it some time.

·          Make sure to report any damages or breaks on the splash guards. Same goes for broken ventilation hoods and control equipment. 

·          For improvement on the ventilation, open workroom doors and windows for natural ventilation to occur.

·         Avoid the use of compresses air when you remove any excess metalworking fluids machine parts or equipment.

Protecting Your Skin

·         Minimize contact with any wet surfaces.

·          Never put your unprotected hands in fluid sumps or coolants and also do not use any oily rags to wipe them clean.

·         Always wear suitable protection gear when needed.

·         Be sure to not contaminate the insides of your protective gears like your gloves with these metalworking fluids.

·         Always keep your hands clean. Pre-work creams help in removing any contaminants later. Do not assume that they serve as gloves as they do not effective in protecting your hands, but they help in keeping the natural moisture content of your skin after you wash your hands.

·          For any cuts or abrasions, be sure to cover them with waterproof dressings.

·          Make sure to regularly wash with soap and water when removing any contaminants from your skin. Do not use any abrasive or powerful solvent cleaners as they would only irritate your skin.