Saws

Metal-Cutting Saws

A Band Saw (also written bandsaw) is a power saw with a long, sharp blade consisting of a continuous band of toothed metal stretched between two or more wheels to cut material. They are used principally in woodworking, metalworking, and lumbering, but may cut a variety of materials. Bandsaws dedicated to industrial metal-cutting use, such as for structural steel in fabrication shops and bar stock in machine shops, are available in vertical and horizontal designs. 

Metal-cutting bandsaws are usually equipped with brushes or brush wheels to prevent chips from becoming stuck in between the blade’s teeth. Systems that cool the blade with cutting fluid are common equipment on metal-cutting bandsaws. The coolant washes away the swarf and keeps the blade cool and lubricated.

Types of Metal-Cutting Saws at Onix Machinery Sales

Manual bandsaws are the most basic type of horizontal bandsaws. While gravity is often what feeds a bandsaw blade down into a workpiece while cutting, some force is needed to lift the saw head back again. A manual bandsaw requires the operator to physically lift the head after each cut. Manual bandsaws are almost always pivot-style saws, meaning their heads are hinged at one side and come down at an angle like a paper cutter. The operator then lifts the saw head back up once the cut has been made.

Semi-automatic horizontal bandsaws utilize hydraulic pistons to raise and lower their heads, saving operators the physical stress of having to raise the head back up after the completion of the cut. Ideal for the fabricator who only needs to make a few cuts in a workpiece, semi-auto saws are often designed to complete other tasks in the cutting operation at the flip of a switch, such as clamping the material, starting the blade, running the coolant, and beginning the downstroke at a specific feed rate. The operator must manually reposition the material for the next cut, but most other operations are automatic.

Where a semi-automatic bandsaw will make a single cut, raise the head back up, and then stop, an automatic bandsaw will just keep working, even if the operator walks off. Following a set program, the saw will automatically feed material into position and then continue to make cuts. It only stops when the program is complete, the material runs out, or if the blade happens to break (which is automatically detected by the machine).

Vertical Bandsaws run their saw blade from the top down, making them ideal for machining smaller parts while offering easy manipulation. Vertical bandsaws are a great place to start your product fabrication while giving technicians a comparatively simple tool to handle.

Cold-Cut Saws provide precise and clean cuts with minimal burr formation on the cut edge. This makes them ideal for applications where a smooth finish is essential, such as in metalworking and fabrication. Cold-Cut Saws come in two different configurations: Manual or Automatic. Manual saws require the operator to feed the material through the saw, while automatic models have a power feed mechanism that automates the cutting process for improved efficiency. Cold-Cut Saws are commonly used in industrial settings, workshops, and metalworking shops, to cut various types of metals like steel, aluminum, brass, and copper.