The principle of operation of band saws was mastered in the nineteenth century and today continues to be relevant. Of course, modern models of such units in terms of design have little in common with the first versions, but the basic technological features remain the same. These include a ring-shaped saw with which you can make straight and curved cuts. The band saw is used in various fields, but the main ones are woodworking factories and furniture enterprises. A device with the same quality carries out roughing and produces high-precision cuts in carpentry.
Machine design
A lot of wood processing depends on the parameters of the machine itself, so its design should be considered most carefully, as well as the individual components. The composition of the unit includes a C-shaped bed, upper and lower pulleys, guide elements, a saw and a working platform, an electric motor, enclosing flaps. Also, special braking mechanisms are used to instantly stop sawing, and a locking device is provided to delay the tape in case it breaks. To allow the user to adjust the width of the cut, a guide ruler is used.
When choosing, you should take into account the location of the blank part of the band saw relative to the direction of the workpieces - it can be left or right. There are band saws for wood and in the structural design of the bed. There are welded and cast bases. However, this criterion is more significant in relation to models designed for metal processing.
Vertical or horizontal?
This classification comes from the type of location of the band saw - respectively, it is vertical and horizontal. There are also modifications with an inclined saw arrangement, but these are rare instances for specific or complex operations. In large models with a vertical arrangement of a saw movement is allowed only for the console with a working element. A small vertical band saw machine has a different principle of operation - only the saw frame is fixed in it, and the workpiece can move. Such models can be used for different types of work - and for the piece manufacture of wood structures, and for the manufacture of furniture.
Horizontal representatives of bandsaw units are considered the most powerful. Some representatives of this category are able to cut frozen wood and hardwood. It is noteworthy that the horizontal band saw in Soviet times was intended exclusively for wood processing, although its structural features are more suitable for metal.
Automatic machine tools
Manual versions of band saws were once popular, but modern drives have practically replaced them, so the question is only in choosing the degree of automation. Automatic band saws for wood are more often used in enterprises that mass-produce wood products. In such mechanisms, the feed is carried out automatically - with the help of the engine and feed vice. If the sawn-off element in length will exceed the stroke parameters, then its transmission will be performed in two approaches with interception. The choice of full automation, as a rule, justifies itself if it is planned to mass-process workpieces of small length.
Semi-automatic models
Semi-automatic versions are more often used in the harvesting woodworking industry. Among the advantages that a semi-automatic band saw has at its disposal, there is the possibility of manipulating the saw frame and vice in the same auto mode. In the process, the workpiece is double pressure (from the frame and the hydraulic cylinder), which allows you to cut solid workpieces without outside effort.
Saw characteristics
The main element of the machine, on which virtually all the quality parameters of the finished product depend. The machine itself to a greater extent affects the functionality and usability. The width of the band saw blade can be from 2.5 to 5 cm, and the thickness varies from 0.9 to 1.1 mm. In some versions, the band saw provides for combining with other characteristics of the saw, but for standard operations it is better to stop at one of the listed sizes. Regarding the material, it is recommended to choose carbon steel models , which, however, are considered the most common. In addition, when choosing a band saw, it is important to consider the type of manufacture that will ultimately determine the hardness. In particular, there are canvases with uniform hardening, with a flexible and hardened back.
Feed and Sawing Speed
Not always this indicator becomes decisive, but if the machine is selected for production tasks, it is worth paying attention to it. The speed at which the cut is carried out determines the efficiency of the use of aggregates in the event that it is not coordinated with the feed rate and the interdental spaces of the saw. As a rule, a band saw can operate at a speed of 700-900 meters per minute, which corresponds to most canvases with a typical interdental distance. Changing the feed rate, as a rule, aims to increase the efficiency of sawing.
Terms of Use
When performing cutting operations, it is always important to remember safety, but do not forget that the main goal is to obtain an even and accurate cut. First you need to fix the wood blank to minimize vibration of the working blade. This will not only affect the convenience of work, but also increase the productivity of the entire process.
Rectilinear cutting is carried out along a guide line or by means of a movable stop, and if curvilinear sawing is performed, in accordance with the marking or using special mechanisms for fixing and feeding the workpiece. In automatic mode, straight cutting with a band saw is facilitated by a removable feed device. This automatic feeder by design resembles a bracket with rollers supplementing it. By manipulating this device, you can easily control the process, but if you plan to create a figured cut, the auto-feed mechanism is removed. It is obvious that serial production in this format of work is impossible or requires other auxiliary mechanisms.
Manufacturers
The band saw market has one peculiarity, which is a pronounced segmentation by manufacturers, each of which occupies its own sector. In other words, there is no serious competition between models with similar characteristics. For example, the initial level is represented by the Russian company Zubr, which produces quite solid machines with basic capabilities and a cost of 20-30 thousand rubles. Oddly enough, the Japanese brand Makita is in this class and is generally modestly represented - mostly budget versions of average performance.
Those who plan to get a truly effective and versatile device should immediately turn to Metabo products. The assortment of this brand contains specimens with a power of up to 1,900 W and a maximum cutting depth of 28 cm. The band saw Jet can rightly be attributed to the leaders of the segment, which is suitable for small carpentry and large-scale factories. The most powerful machines are capable of providing up to 5,500 W, and their cutting depth reaches 45.5 cm.
Conclusion
Equipment for performing complex wood processing operations is not cheap, but it allows you to cope with the work as safely and efficiently as possible. Band saws in this regard are the optimal solution, since they combine several important parameters at once: reliability, mobility, ease of operation and the ability to replace critical mechanisms.
It cannot be foreseen how effective a particular band saw will be under certain operating conditions. Nevertheless, a detailed analysis of the characteristics, including cutting depth, speed, saw parameters, configuration of the feeding elements, will allow you to get as close as possible to the right solution. The rest already depends on the quality of operation of the equipment. It requires regular cleaning, checking all fasteners and clamps, as well as preventive treatment of external functional elements.