A typical metal cutting band saw has bent teeth. The bend in the band saw teeth will allow you to create a cut that is wider than the thickness of the metal cutting band saw blade. This feature is important in order to prevent the metal blade from being stuck while getting pinched by the metal at work.
To understand how a gear hobbing band saw works, you need to know the three different patterns in a blade tooth. The tooth patterns are wave, raker and straight. It is recommended that for your gear hobbing jobs you use the raker. The wave tooth pattern is commonly used when you are working with thin work sections like angles, tubing and channels. When working on a metal work piece, you need to consider that at least three of the band saw blade teeth should be at all times in contact with your work piece. This technique will prevent shearing of the teeth and chattering due to overload. You need therefore to use finely done tooth blades when working with tubing and sheet metal. If however, the metal sheet that you are working with is too thin for the finest tooth blade, it is advisable that you place the metal in between pieces of fiber board, plywood or some metal in order to give support to the blade. If you are confused and unsure on how to do this, you can seek the help of gear hobbing experts. If you are in Canada, you can contact the team of skilled workers at True Gear & Spline to help you out.
The saw pitch will mostly determine how the end product will appear. If you use fine blade with lightning speed then the finish will be finer. You can also improve the quality of your finish by employing the help of a cutting fluid. The finest finish is produced using a fine metal saw pitch blade with very high speed and a light feed.
Like other tools and machines used in gear hobbing, band saw blades get dull from constant use. However, if you do the necessary precautions then you will experience longer wear on your blades. Take note that the metal blades will dull quickly if you apply rapid speed every time you cut a metal. If the metal that you are about to cut is thick and very hard for the blade, then you will likely experience an immediate abnormal tear. The most common cause though of premature blade wear happens when you use very fine pitch blade and then you feed it with thick and heavy metals.
The following are conditions of a band saw blade that needs replacement:
- The blade is being forced to go on one side and it apparently becomes very difficult to follow a line.
- The chips become granular.
- Every time you feed the work piece by hand, the band saw blade does not cut at all or cuts very slowly.
- Feel the teeth of the band saw blade when you remove it. If you do not feel the sharp edges, then definitely, the blade needs replacement since it is now dull.