Does your circular cold saw give you perfect cuts every time?
If not, you’re unnecessarily wasting time and material.
Though fabricators use these reliable machines for finishes that don’t require secondary operations, quickly creating clean cuts isn’t easy. It’s especially challenging when working with a variety of metals.
That’s why you must follow certain rules to maximize circular cold saw efficiency.
Break in the Blade
As you would with a new band saw blade, you must break in a circular cold saw blade before using it. This prolongs the blade’s life and keeps it sharp.
Here are the simple steps to break in a circular cold saw blade:
- Choose material that the blade can cut
- Pour coolant on the blade and material to prevent overheating
- Take two or three slow cuts
- Adjust your pace, gradually going faster, until you reach normal cutting speed
Following these steps also prevents common problems, such as cracks and stripping teeth. In the long run, you’ll consistently create clean cuts.
Ensure Proper Pitch
To efficiently cut with a circular cold saw, match pitch to the material you’re handling.
You can measure pitch by counting the number of teeth per inch on a blade. Most metalworking materials demand a minimum of three teeth be on the material during the cut.
If you don’t maintain proper pitch, the quality of your cuts will suffer and the blade could be damaged.
Imagine cutting a solid metal block that’s six inches thick with a circular cold saw that has 10 teeth per inch. The cut will be slow and loud. This is because material chips will fill space between the teeth when the teeth are too close together. The chips will have difficulty being discharged.
Instead of efficiently finishing the job, you’ll spend most of your time fixing and cleaning the blade.
Monitor and Adjust SFM
For perfect cuts, pair material with a circular cold saw that has the right surface feet per minute (SFM) rating.
SFM measures the distance a circular blade tooth travels in a minute. You can determine SFM by combining a blade’s RPM with its diameter. Here’s the equation:
Diameter x Pi x RPM = SFM
Constantly monitor the size of the chips you create while cutting. If they’re smaller or larger than normal, you’re likely going too slowly or using an improper blade. Adjust your speed and choose a different blade until you see normal-sized chips.
Here are two SFM concepts to keep in mind when using a circular cold saw:
- On soft materials, such as mild steel, use a big blade with a high RPM
- On tough materials, such as stainless steel, use a small blade with a low RPM
With proper cutting technique and the right circular cold saw blade, you’ll create flawless finishes. Your job shop will enjoy increased efficiency as a result
>>Looking in Ontario or the rest of Canada for a reliable circular cold saw? Contact Westway Machinery today for unbeatable selection.
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