Band saw for wood: types, how to choose, device

Device of band saw machines

The band saw machine consists of the following elements:

A saw band is a tool that cuts wood. Its basis is spring steel with high rigidity. The saw blade has steel teeth. Their dimensions and rigidity depend on the hardness and dimensions of the workpiece being processed.
Vertical bed. A saw blade with teeth, brakes and guards are installed on it. The upper half of the vertical bed is L-shaped.
Electrical engine. It provides rotational movement of the pulleys.
Brushes used to clean workpieces from chips, dust and other industrial debris.
Locking mechanisms that prevent you from working with the machine if there are malfunctions.
The work table is the space where wood parts are processed. It is made of aluminum, stainless steel and cast iron. The worktop has 2 working positions: horizontal and inclined (up to 45°). There are additional recesses on the workbench for removing chips.
Upper and lower pulleys. They are wheels for transmitting or receiving torque. The upper pulley is stationary, the lower pulley is driven.
Guide blades. They prevent the band saw from breaking and securely hold it in place while processing a piece of wood.

There are band saw units with 3 pulleys. They have a soft bandage made of leather or rubber. The surface of the pulley is covered with balsa wood rollers, which protect the saw blade teeth from external defects. By moving the pulleys, the tension of the saw blade with increased reach changes. This parameter determines the service life of the band saw.

The band saw machine has the following characteristics:

Power. This indicator determines the performance of the device. This parameter determines whether the device can be used in carpentry workshops or in large woodworking shops. The power of household machines is 500-800 W, industrial - up to 3 kW.
Mains voltage. This characteristic determines the conditions for using the device. Band saws operate on electrical networks with voltages ranging from 220 to 380 V.
Cutting depth. This indicator determines the maximum thickness of the bars processed by the machine. The average cutting depth is 0.15-1 m.
Cutting width is the distance between the stand and the band saw. The average value of this indicator is 0.35 m.
Cutting speed. This parameter determines the smoothness of the cut. The average value of this indicator is 750 m/min. The higher the cutting speed, the cleaner the resulting cut.
Length of the saw blade, weight of the equipment and dimensions of the working surface.

Modern band saws are made from 2 different materials. They are equipped with bimetallic saws, which improves the quality of processing wood products.

Purpose of the equipment

The main purpose of band saws is cutting lumber. They are widely used in everyday life and industry due to the following advantages:

The machines are capable of accurately cutting workpieces with a thickness of no more than 0.4 m.
During the operation of band saws, a minimal amount of waste is generated.
As a result of processing a wooden block with a band saw, a clean cut is obtained that does not require additional grinding.
A wood sawing machine can be used for curved sawing.
Band saw units take up a small amount of space, so they can be easily installed in home workshops.
The devices do not make loud sounds. Therefore, they do not cause discomfort to the operator. The low noise level of band saws allows them to be used in rooms with poor sound insulation.

There are the following types of band saw machines according to their intended purpose:

Household: used in home workshops. They are small in size. Household machines are installed on specialized workbenches or stands. The devices are fastened with screws.
Semi-professional: designed for cutting bars up to 0.2 m thick. They are installed in home workshops and small woodworking shops.
Professional: used in large industries. They are floor-standing devices and are heavy. These machines are capable of processing workpieces with a thickness of more than 0.3 m.

Band sawing machines are used in the production of lumber products: boards, wood-fiber and particle boards, panels and other sheet materials. These devices are used in carpentry workshops, woodworking shops and furniture factories.

Features of sharpening band saws

Any tool will sooner or later become dull, and the master will be faced with the question of sharpening it. It can be performed either manually or using special equipment. Sharpening band saws involves setting them, that is, restoring the profile of the cutting edge. There are three ways to set up a saw:

Classic
. In this case, the teeth are deflected in turn to the right and left sides.
Cleaning
. With this method, the 1st and 2nd teeth are deflected in different directions, and the 3rd is left straight. This makes cutting even the hardest materials easier.
Wavy
. In this case, the edge is given a wave effect. A difficult option that can only be performed by professionals.

Band saw sharpening machine

There are many varieties of such units. First of all, they differ in the type of grinding wheels selected for a specific type of cutting blade. There is no one-size-fits-all saw that can handle any band, so before purchasing one, you need to make sure it fits the saw itself. A small cutting tool can also be sharpened with a needle file, but in industrial production conditions this option is unacceptable. The machine for sharpening band saws can be manual or automatic. In any case, it requires the use of coolant.

Types of Band Saws

According to the method of arrangement, band sawing machines are divided into:

Vertical. They are equipped with a saw frame located vertically. Vertical bandsaw machines for wood are divided into small-sized and large-sized. The saw installed in small-sized devices is the main moving mechanism. In large-sized devices, the workpiece is moved by the operator in the required plane.
Horizontal. They are equipped with a saw frame located horizontally. These devices are used for processing large-sized hardwood lumber.

In accordance with the degree of automation, the following types of sawing machines are distinguished:

Manual. During operation of the device, the operator must independently feed wooden blanks. The procedure for cutting the bars is also carried out manually. Handheld bandsaws are most often used in home workshops.
Semi-automatic. These devices automate the operation of the band saw and vice. Semi-automatic mechanisms are installed in furniture factories.
Automatic. All mechanisms of these devices are fully automated. Automatic devices are used in large industrial production. They take up a lot of space.

Based on belt type, machines are divided into:

Devices with narrow saw blades. Their width is no more than 6 cm. Narrow saws cannot be sharpened. Therefore, they must be completely replaced if worn.
Devices with wide saw blades. Their width can reach 30 cm. Machines with wide saws are highly productive. They are capable of processing hardwood products up to 1 m thick.

Machines are classified by power and size:

Carpentry. They are characterized by low power and small dimensions. They have a desktop modification. These machines are used in carpentry workshops.
Dividing. They are capable of dividing logs into layers and have medium dimensions. Used in the production of furniture.
Log saws. These machines are characterized by high power and large dimensions. They are installed at woodworking enterprises.

There are also separate classifications of band saw machines according to the number of speed modes, the volume of processed products per unit of time and the angle of rotation.

Types of band saws

As already mentioned, they can be:

horizontal;

vertical.

Such equipment is divided into manual, semi-automatic and automatic. In addition, there are three types of band saw for wood:

Serrated
. The model with teeth is widely used for processing wood and metal, and it is also used for cutting mineral wool, foam concrete and even food products - meat, fish.
Toothless friction saw
. Its metal belt is also equipped with teeth, but their purpose is to increase the generation of heat during friction and thereby increase the productivity of all equipment.
Electric spark band saw
. Its use is advisable in one case and it concerns the processing of workpieces whose thickness exceeds 15 mm. Conventional circular saws with electric spark action cannot cope with them due to large runout, significant diameter and pitch, which is why a band unit is used.

A variety of blades can be used on the same machine - both special and for specific types of workpieces. The scope of application of a cutting tool depends on the pitch of the teeth, that is, their size, the hardness of the edges, their geometry and setting. For example, for processing large workpieces, a blade with large serrations is selected, and for cutting products made from tool steel, increased tooth hardness is required. Their backs are reinforced if the process is accompanied by strong vibration and impact.

Operating principle of band saw machines

The operating principle of sawing machines was developed in the second half of the 19th century. Modern devices operate from a special belt placed between 2 flywheels. When the device is turned on, the belt is set in motion. The operator can then feed the wood blanks. Processing of products is carried out by moving the band saw using a frame. Cutting is done at an acute angle (up to 60°). The cuts on the workpiece are accurate, so the pressure on the material during work is distributed equally.

Examples of choosing machines for small and medium-sized businesses

The Anchor Corvette 422 cantilever machine is designed for small-scale work; it has a rotary vice, but is equipped with a coolant supply system. The console Proma PPS-270THP is capable of sawing at any angle chosen by the operator.

The two-column semi-automatic machine Fmb OLIMPUS 3+VHZ is designed for simultaneous sawing of several rolled products; it can cut large-sized workpieces made of steel of all grades, albeit with low productivity.

What brands are most in demand today:

How to choose

When choosing wood band saws, the following criteria must be taken into account:

Metal of the cutting part. To cut wood, the band saw must be made of carbide materials. For heavy duty sawing, it is recommended to purchase devices whose cutting part is made of bimetallic materials.
Electric motor power. To cut wooden products at home, you can use machines equipped with a low-power drive. Large-scale production requires units equipped with a high-power electric motor and speed control mechanisms.
Control type. When cutting light metals in small industries, it is recommended to use manual machines with a desktop modification. In large enterprises, automatic devices are most often used.
Cooling system. It allows you to reduce the temperature of the machine when it heats up during the sawing process. Water emulsions are used for cooling.
The presence of a function that allows you to automatically stop the machine after a through cut.
Rigidity of parts. This indicator determines the resistance of the machine to vibrations. The stiffer the parts, the more accurate the cut.

Also, when choosing a band saw, you need to consider its brand. Manufacturers use various technologies and materials in the manufacture of sawing units. The most popular band saws are from Metabo, Jet and Makita. Woodworking devices from these manufacturers can be used both in industry and in domestic conditions. They are equipped with instructions and tools for adjusting machine mechanisms. In Russia, machines are also produced under the Zubr brand. They are designed for medium productivity work.

Band saw blade

Cutting tools differ not only in the nature and arrangement of the teeth, but also in the material of manufacture. The saw blade for a band saw can be made from:

Carbon steel
. Used for cutting wood.
Bimetal
. Often such blades are equipped with carbide teeth. This means that they are soldered with carbide. A blade fused from two metals is more popular, and all because the edges of its teeth are hard and the tape itself is flexible.

Any tape is made by cutting the material to size and welding its ends, followed by cleaning the seam. The cutting tool is welded using special equipment, which makes it possible to obtain an almost imperceptible joint that does not in any way affect the quality of the saw. On the same machine, you can use different types of blades, depending on the type of material being processed and the task facing the master.

How to make it yourself

To make a band saw at home, you need to purchase sheet metal supports, a frame, guide blades, bearings, strips, a clamp, a casing and fasteners (screws and bolts). The procedure for manufacturing a homemade device is carried out in several stages:

Creating a machine drawing. It is necessary to indicate the dimensions of all parts.
Welding the desktop frame.
Making a table top. It can be made from several plywood sheets 2 cm thick. It is recommended to cover the tabletop with textolite.
Installation of the supporting rod using a channel.
Manufacturing of upper and lower pulleys. They need to be covered with rubber.
Sanding wooden surfaces and applying epoxy resin.
Fixing the lower pulley on the axle using 3 screws. The axle is mounted on 2 ball bearings and attached to the supporting rod.
Attaching the top pulley to the second end of the axle.
Electric motor installation. The drive must be connected to the drive pulley.
Installation of a support with an adjusting screw. The resulting mechanism is fixed on a rod. After this, the belt pulleys are placed at the same level.
Fixing the casing on the supporting rod and the surface of the work table.
Make a switch. It is recommended to place it on the frame. The switch is equipped with a wire connecting it to the electric motor.

After building the band saw machine, it is necessary to carry out a test run. The device should not vibrate or make unnecessary noise.

Instructions for working with band saw machines

When working with band saws, the following rules must be observed:

Before processing wooden workpieces, it is necessary to adjust the angle of inclination, depth of cut and tension speed of the guide blades on the machine.
To obtain an accurate cut and minimize vibrations of the work table, it is necessary to fix the workpiece.
It is necessary to ensure good lighting of the work area. For this purpose, it is recommended to use LED machine lamps.
Small-sized structures must be installed on special stands or a workbench, large-sized ones - on the floor.
Curvilinear cutting must be carried out using tools for feeding and fixing the wooden block.
Straight cutting must be done using a movable stop.
Periodically replace the belt blades and lubricate the moving elements of the machine.
When operating the machine, you must wear personal protective equipment.
The saw blade guides must be installed close to the workpiece.
Before leaving the workplace, you must turn off the woodworking device.

To work with a wood processing unit, you must first undergo safety training. To operate the machine, the operator must have sufficient training and knowledge of the basic operation of the sawing device.