Machinery equipment is not in every segment in great demand. It can be specialized, production and professional units, solving problems of far from everyday range. But there are universal assistants, which include a circular machine for processing wood materials. It has a fairly simple design and simple control, which in many respects determined its wide distribution.
Purpose of equipment
Machines of this type are also called sawing and woodworking. With the help of such an aggregate in private households, it is possible to cut boards of the required size, carefully withdraw the edges at right angles, chamfer and perform other carpentry operations. In production, circular machines are used for longitudinal, oblique, transverse or combined cutting of workpieces in line mode.
The target material is a solid tree, but universal models are characterized by a wider range of applications. In particular, they are available for processing various wood-based blanks, including chipboard, fiberboard, plywood, etc. When using special disks (working equipment), plastic with an aluminum profile can also be cut.
Specifications
The power potential of the machine, in particular, will determine which workpiece format it can work with. Power averages 1200-2400 watts. Accordingly, household units have a small power reserve of up to 1500 watts, and high-performance industrial machines can also have 3000 watts of engines. Such a technique with diamond blades can quite cope with metal blanks. By the way, powerful equipment is connected to a 380-W three-phase network, and small-sized amateur machines operate with 220-W sockets.
No less important is the depth cut parameter. It is determined by the size of the disc - from 200 to 305 mm. Accordingly, it will be possible to obtain cuts from 60 to 85 mm. The overview of circular machines presented below will help to become more familiar with different types of this equipment, as well as their operational features.
Household Sawing Machines
These are mini-machines that have a modest weight and are placed on the table. They have limited power and lack many modern options, but they are quite suitable for typical woodworking tasks without intensive loads. For example, the design with small-format discs makes it possible to perform straight cuts with a depth of 40-80 mm. Moreover, due to the small size of the working platform, there may be restrictions on cutting large workpieces. Typically, home circular machines serve blanks 300-600 mm wide.
But it is worth noting the positive aspects of the use of units of this type:
- Firstly, users note a low level of noise and vibration, which positively affects the accuracy of the cut.
- Secondly, desktop circulars are inexpensive - in some ranges, the price corresponds to the cost of a manual power tool for woodworking.
Long Platform Machines
Due to the increase in working space, the design allows you to place large-format workpieces on the table, which extends the functionality of the unit. Such machines are more productive and more powerful than household analogues, but they are not suitable for every workshop in size. In the unfolded state, this type of circular machine allows you to process workpieces whose width is about 1300-1400 mm. For the convenience of physical handling of the equipment, some developers provide support legs and a wheelbase in the design.
As for the depth of cut, it is 85-90 mm. For home use, it makes little sense to purchase such machines, but in the carpentry workshop they turn out to be good helpers. However, the cost of circulars with an extended working base is considerable - 15-20 thousand rubles. for a medium power model.
Stationary Circular Machines
These are large aggregates with impressive power and the ability to cut large workpieces. They are used in furniture factories, woodworking enterprises and in workshops, as both primary and auxiliary equipment.
But not only power and versatility are characterized by stationary models of circular machines. Thanks to a stable design with minimal vibration, a clean and even cut is obtained without any defects. The depth range in this case varies from 70 to 125 mm.
In addition, stationary circular sawing machines have a large working resource. The elemental base is designed for long and non-stop processing sessions, which is achieved thanks to high-strength materials. For example, the supporting structure of the circular machine is made of cast iron. Consumables and components of the electric motor also have a high working resource.
Combined machines
In such models, the emphasis is on multifunctionality and versatility of operation. This affects the design, which, in addition to the saw blade, also receives equipment for drilling, milling, sharpening, grinding, etc. As a rule, combined machines are equipped with a high-power engine with the function of adjusting the number of spindle revolutions - this allows you to configure the unit for operations of varying degrees of complexity .
In this case, it will be wrong to attribute combined units strictly to the professional field of application. Thus, a low-productivity circular planer with a jointer can be useful in the household for the complex preparation of lumber with operations of cutting, planing and even abrasive finishing. More sophisticated production models include tools for pressing, turning and format cutting. On such equipment, the user can get their own chipboard or chipboard.
Additional functionality
Sometimes the presence of one or another auxiliary option during processing is more useful than an increase in the main technical parameters. So, in order to improve ease of use, manufacturers supply the machines with conveyor scales (for precise positioning of the workpiece), LED backlighting, handles for adjusting the number of revolutions, and devices for fixing the material at the right angle.
Particular attention is paid to protective equipment. Both household and professional models today receive engine protection systems against accidental starting, overheating and overloads. And so that circular sawing machines less pollute the working area and the respiratory system of the operator with shavings and wood dust, an instant waste discharge through the suction port is organized. An even more effective solution is to use a construction vacuum cleaner that can be connected to the nozzle to remove working dirt.
The best models of machines
The described equipment is offered on the market by both manufacturers of construction tools and specialized manufacturers of industrial equipment. In the initial segment, it is worth highlighting domestic units and, in particular, Enkor Corvette 8-31. This is a model with a power of 1200 watts and a mass of 10 kg, which is optimally suited for domestic tasks.
In the middle class, the imported units of Bosch, Metabo, Makita, Hitachi, etc. are widely represented. For example, the German model from Bosch performed by the GTS 10 XC shows an example of a performance-balanced machine with a power of 2100 W, which provides cuts up to 80 mm. If you need a universal circular saw for wood for oblique and straight cuts, then this option is best for everyone.
If you need high-performance equipment for a furniture factory, for example, then you should turn to professional specialized machines. The proven Powermatic brand offers the PM1000 for these needs, with a grooved 200 mm blade that handles workpieces in different cutting configurations, regardless of the hardness of the wood.
What to consider when buying a machine?
Immediately before the purchase, when a suitable model is determined, a control audit of a specific instance should be made. Both the appearance and the performance of the power filling are checked. The condition of the engine, electrical infrastructure and fasteners should be assessed. If electronic systems are provided in the machine, then their functionality and correct operation are checked.
Do not forget about consumables. Circular saw blades are selected both in size and in blade configuration. Depending on the shape of the teeth, the frequency of their location and sharpening, the tooling can perform a clean cut, fast or optimal.
There are also special series of disks designed for sharpening, grinding and trimming solid billets. But they should be selected taking into account the compliance with the power parameters of a particular equipment.
Homemade Circular Machines
At home, an acceptable jointer-circular unit for woodworking can be manufactured with one working shaft and a drive system connecting the electric motor, saw and knife mechanism. A metal corner with a base from an old foot-type sewing machine is used as a supporting frame. The bed can have carriers from the channel - tsars or crossbars. All docking units are connected by welding, since screw fasteners are undesirable in such equipment.
For the manufacture of the rotor, it is recommended to contact specialists. The best option for a home-made circular machine is a 3-knife element in combination with a saw blade. To facilitate the processing of the edges of the workpiece with slopes, it will also be useful to provide a slide on the platform. They serve as guides, facilitating spot positioning.
Conclusion
Optimization of the design without serious losses in power indicators allowed the developers of traditional sawing machines to expand this segment. As a result, proposals appeared in the form of compact circular saws with a compact bed, but efficient engines. In the middle segment, models with new functionality are increasingly appearing - backlight, speed control, soft start, etc.
In other words, today any interested user can find a circular saw for wood in a suitable format. It is enough to determine the dimensions, the number of revolutions and the cut parameters. Also, do not forget about the equipment belonging to a particular manufacturer. As practice shows, high-quality and durable machines cannot cost less than 5-7 thousand rubles. Universal models with decent technical data will cost 15-25 thousand rubles. And a completely separate segment is represented by industrial stationary saws, which are often purchased on request with individual equipment.