Dinamitek offers a guide to choosing the right blade teeth and methods to avoid cutting problems

Dinamitek advises on how to choose the right blade teeth and how to prevent the most common problems during cutting.

Choosing the right blade teeth is essential for achieving a clean cut, avoiding vibrations, reducing wear, and preventing sudden breakage. The pitch of the teeth, their shape, and the geometry of the workpiece determine the blade's behavior during operation. Correct teeth allow for faster, more precise work, and significantly longer blade life.

Cutting of details with full sections

When cutting solid workpieces, the tooth pitch must be chosen based on the maximum contact between the teeth and the material. In this situation, multiple teeth operate simultaneously and the load is distributed evenly.

To prevent premature wear of the tops of the teeth:

• the cutting must take place by chipping and not by filing;
• the cutting speed must be appropriate to the material;
• if the feed rate is too low, the teeth “grind” and wear out quickly;
• Too high a speed generates excessive heat, rounding the tips of the teeth (bluish discoloration).

The material should not be too hard for the chosen blade. Manufacturers provide reference tables to help you choose the correct tooth pitch based on the material.

Cutting of parts with interrupted section geometries

When the piece has voids, edges, or changes in section , the number of teeth in the mesh varies continuously. In these cases:

• the step must be chosen by evaluating both the maximum cutting height and the thickness of the piece in the various phases;
• few teeth in mesh = high loads on each tooth → greater risk of breakage;
• attention must be paid to the hardness of the material;
• materials with irregular layers or sharp edges increase stresses;
• the position of the piece must be stable to avoid vibrations that damage the blade.

Contouring and notching

For special processes such as contouring and notching , it is necessary to choose a blade:

• narrower to follow narrow radii;
• wider if stability is needed on wide curves;
• with teeth suitable for the required precision.

Fundamental parameters to avoid chipping and breakages

The cutting parameters to consider are:

• blade rotation speed,
• feed rate,
• advance pressure,
• tooth pitch,
• conformation of the teeth.

These parameters must be adapted to the metallurgical and geometric characteristics of the material to be cut.

Breaking in the new blade

Properly running the blade in is essential: a new blade must initially operate at gentler settings to stabilize the teeth. A damaged blade cannot be repaired; it must be replaced.

Machine control

The machine has as much influence as the blade. Before starting cutting:

• check that the guide bearings and blade guide plates are not worn;
• check the alignment of the blade guide assemblies;
• make sure the blade tension is correct;
• check the coolant mixture and correct spraying;
• if present, control the probe to slow down the entry into the material;
• maintain a linear and constant progress;
• avoids impacts of the teeth against parts of the saw.

Cleaning the chips

During cutting, shavings are formed that must be removed with a clean blade brush . Proper cleaning prevents shavings from getting stuck in the tooth grooves or, worse, from welding together, compromising the blade.

Premature wear of the teeth

Sometimes the teeth don't break, but they wear out too quickly . Again, the cause is often an incorrect choice of pitch or tooth shape for the material.

The toothing must always be chosen based on the geometric and dimensional characteristics of the piece.

This guide aims to provide practical advice for recognizing and preventing the most common damage to blades during cutting.

CUT WITHOUT PROBLEMS WITH DINAMITEK

If you want to learn more about not only the teeth, but also the different blade materials (HCS, HSS, bimetal, and carbide) and understand which technology to choose based on the type of cut and the material being worked, we have prepared a comprehensive guide dedicated specifically to choosing the right blade.

READ THE GUIDE ON CHOOSING BLADES