Comparison of ten circular saw blades using the feed rate adjusted sound power level when cutting MDF board

摘要

Reducing occupational noise exposure is a reason to compare the amount of sound emitted by saw blades. Sound power level was measured with ten different saw blades with and without a blade stiffener in the loaded and unloaded conditions using a Makita 5057KB dust control circular saw. In the unloaded condition, the circular saw was suspended by bungee cords and running full speed. In the loaded condition, the saw was hand held while cutting through a 2' x 4' piece of Medium Density Fiber board (MDF). In the loaded condition, a feed rate adjusted sound power level was calculated. The feed rate adjusted sound power level accounts for the cumulative noise exposure for completing the task of cutting through an MDF board. In the unloaded condition, one blade had a sound power more than 2 dBA greater than the saw blade with the lowest sound power level. In the loaded condition, two of the blades had a feed rate adjusted sound power more than 2 dBA greater than the saw blade with the lowest feed rate adjusted sound power level. Therefore, selecting a saw blade by minimizing the feed rate adjusted sound power level may help to reduce worker noise exposure.