In band sawing, shops can typically choose between three types of blades: carbon, bi-metal and carbide tipped. Bi-metal and carbide tipped blades offer better performance and longer life expectancy than carbon steel blades; however, choosing the correct type can be a challenge. In this article, we will explain the benefits of carbide tipped band saw blades and when to use them.
Types of Band Saw Blades
Band saw blades can be divided into three general types: carbon, bi-metal and carbide tipped.
- Carbon blades are composed of entirely carbon steel and have induction hardened teeth. The use of carbon blades is quite limited in modern operations.
- Bi-metal blades are made with two different types of metals. The blade backing is made with a flexible spring steel which allows the blade to bend and flex during use. A high-speed steel wire is electron-beam welded onto the blade backing, which the teeth of the blade are milled into. High speed steel (e.g. M42) provides durability in the cutting edge, contributing to a much longer blade life compared to a carbon blade.
- The backing for carbide tipped blades is made of a flexible spring steel. The teeth pockets are milled into the backing material, and the carbide tip is brazed into the pockets and finish ground. The carbide tip is stronger and can resist more heat.
Carbide Tipped Band Saw Blades
The main reasons a shop would switch to carbide band saw blades are longer life and faster cutting. The reason these blades can deliver such results is the carbide itself, a popular material for cutting tools because of its high durability and high heat resistance. These two factors are why carbide blades outperform the bi-metal blades.
Carbide is best suited for use in solid materials because the continuous cut faces less vibration than when cutting structural or thin wall tubing, for example.
Source: LENOX, Stanley Black & Decker
Carbide blades can be divided into four basic categories:
- General Purpose: generally recommended for cutting operations that frequently change the materials being cut. These blades are engineered to be versatile, working on a wide range of materials and limiting the need to change blades.
- Hard-to-Cut Metals: blades optimized for aerospace alloys containing high amounts of nickel, such as stainless steel and Inconel.
- Extreme Performance: coated carbide blades – applying a thin film coating to the tooth edge of a blade helps transfer the heat from the cutting edge of the blade to the chips. This protection enables the blade to stay cool, cut faster and provide much longer blade life.
- Specialty: blades engineered with specific cutting operations in mind.
When To Use a Carbide Tipped Band Saw Blade
In order to get the most of a carbide tipped blade, it is important to consider some key elements: the band saw machine, the operator, and the operating costs.
The first step of evaluating when to use carbide tipped is the machine itself. It’s commonly understood that carbide tipped blades should only be run on new, high end band saw machines. In fact, carbide tipped blades can be run on a wide variety of saws. But there are some key elements to maximize the output of your carbide blade:
a) the more rigid the saw, the better as it will help prevent vibration which helps protecting the carbide teeth;
b) the machine must run at elevated band speeds; and
c) the machine must be well maintained to extend the benefits of a carbide tipped blade and help prevent premature failure.
A key component of running a carbide tipped blade is the experience of the operator. An experienced or well-trained operator will help to get the most out of a carbide tipped blade. A trained operator is more likely to safely install the blade without breaking teeth, break-in the blade properly to achieve faster rates, run the job at the correct sawing parameters, and perform preventative machine maintenance to keep the machine in optimal condition.
Another key element is the cost per cut. Reducing cut times directly affects the use of overhead in making the cut. This is particularly obvious in difficult to cut materials, using a carbide tipped blade with higher speed and feed rate can reduce the cost per cut when compared to bi-metal.
Our Supplier
Lenox, a Division of Stanley Black & Decker, is our Supplier Partner for band saw blades. They offer a comprehensive range of high-quality carbon, bi-metal, and carbide tipped band saw blades.
Choosing the correct blade is crucial for the success of the job. For more information about carbide tipped band saw blades and how to choose the correct blade for your job, contact us.
One Response