Posted on 22nd November 2019
When working with industrial bandsaws, it’s not uncommon to run into issues with the performance of your machine every now and then; the main problem can sometimes be trying to identify the problem and what needs to be done in order to fix it. Below, we aim to discuss some of the most common issues seen to occur during the use of bandsaw blades, how to fix them, as well as the initial cause of the problem; helping you to reduce the risk of running into the same issue on repeat.
Blade Breakage
Breakages to your industrial bandsaw blade can occur for a multitude of reasons; these include:
- Blade tension being set too high or low
- Use of incorrect cutting fluid
- Use of incorrect blade
- Teeth in contact with cutting materials before saw is started
- Chipped or worn pressure block
In the case that breakages to the bandsaw blade are occurring due to blade tension being set too highly, this can easily be resolved by reducing the tension of the blade. To avoid this in the future, it should be ensured that blade tension is checked regularly and before every operation, as adjustments may need to be made when changing cutting materials, or even if the bandsaw has been idle for a longer period of time than usual.
Breakages as a result of incorrect blade or cutting fluid can also be resolved quite simply by checking the tooth selection of your bandsaw blade and coolant recommendations for your machine. Issue occurring through the use of a worn-out pressure block can be solved by replacing such block with a newer one; ensure pressure blocks are changed as required to avoid saw blades breaking again in the future.
It is vital that, before beginning the cutting process, the bandsaw motor is allowed to reach full speed. Allow the blade some clearance before starting operation and never start the sawing machine with any materials already in contact with the blade as this can ultimately lead to breakages.
Teeth Stripping
The causes of teeth stripping can include the following:
- Incorrect blade pitch
- Poor cutting fluid ratio or application
- Feed pressure is too high
- Improper blade break-in procedure followed
Issues of teeth stripping during the use of your bandsaw machine could come as a result of the use of improper blade pitch. It is vital to ensure that correct tooth selection is used throughout all of your cutting applications as to avoid issues such as this from occurring. It is also vital to ensure that the correct coolant, as well as the right coolant flow and ratio, is used throughout all cutting applications to reduce the risk of teeth stripping occurring. Checking the coolant recommendations is a good way to guarantee the proper use of coolant within your cutting application, allowing your bandsaw to run at its best.
If teeth stripping has occurred due to feed pressure being too high, the quickest, and easiest, way to resolve this problem is to reduce the pressure of the feed and ensure that feed pressure is checked before use of machinery, avoiding a reoccurring issue.
With stripping that has happened as a result of incorrect blade break-in, it should be ensured that the correct procedure for your machine is followed when replacing the broken bandsaw blade as to stop this from happening repeatedly.
Premature Teeth Dulling
Premature teeth dulling on your industrial bandsaw machine blade can be caused by a range of reasons, including:
- Blade installed on the machine backwards
- Speed is too high
- Feed is too high
- Improper cutting fluid or mix ratio
- Improper blade break-in procedure
Issues of premature teeth dulling as a result of incorrect blade installation, fitting it to the machine backwards, are more common that one may think; however, this problem is resolved very easily by ensuring the bandsaw blade is installed the proper way around in the future, avoiding repeat issues of saw blade teeth becoming too dull at a quicker rate than usual. Problems caused by saw speed and feed are also very quickly resolved by adjusting these factors, ensuring the blade is operating at its recommended pace.
As previously mentioned, incorrect use of the correct coolant, as well as the right coolant flow and ratio; check upon the recommendations for your machine to guarantee proper use and avoid repeat problems in the future. Improper blade break-in is resolved by following the proper procedure for your machine, avoiding the problem occurring again.
To conclude, some of the most common issues seen in bandsaw blades can be quite easily fixed, and following the recommended procedures specific to your machinery can help to prevent the reoccurrence of such problems, ensuring your bandsaw runs as smoothly as possible. To discover more about automatic bandsaws, get in touch with our experienced bandsaw suppliers and learn what we can do to help you with your next industrial application.