Sawing the moody metal/Tactics for successful stainless steel bandsawing

摘要

Stainless steel is, arguably, the metal most sensitive to bandsawing and blade condition. Variations in throughput and blade life are common even when sawing with the same blade type. One shop may saw through only 1 in.~2/min and wear out a blade every day, while another cuts at 7 in.~2/min with the blade lasting a week, or more. Stainless chips don't readily break up and clear. Rather, they are stringy and adhere to saw blades. These clingy chips also clog the blade's gullets and increase cutting heat and friction. In a bimetal blade, heat generated by cutting softens both the blade and workplace, dulls the teeth, and welds chip particles to the teeth. Also, at high cutting temperatures, softened stainless moves aside rather than being cleanly cut off. Then, as the blade passes, the material moves back and closes the kerf, pinching the blade. Blade selection is a key to productivity and blade life when cutting stainless. In addition, the work must be properly clamped, blade speed correctly set, blades properly installed and run-in, and machines and blades kept in top working order. Above all, the teeth must be protected and carefully handled throughout the blade's life. Damage to a single tooth starts a chain reaction inevitably leading to blade failure.