Technical information

Choose the right blade with 5 rules

Each blade proposed by Guabo is designed to cut in an optimal way every kind of workable material, such as steel, structural steel, stainless steel, carbon steel, alloy steel, light alloy, exotic and nickel based alloy, ferrous and non-ferrous metal, aluminum, composites, plastics, rubbers, fiberglass, graphite, ceramics, wood, bronze, copper, brass and paper products.
As evidenced by the constant task in research and technical development, Guabo recognizes the importance that the choice of the right blade, and the related parameters, has for the customers, depending also on the kind of material to work. The following parameters are absolutely fundamental for an optimal result and a long life of the blade. For these reasons, a highly expert staff is always ready and available to help and support the customer in the process of choosing, buying and using the product.
In detail the main parameters to consider are:

• Width: tip of the cutting edge to the back of the blade, from which depends also the strength
• Thickness: measurement of the body of the blade, it is in proportion to the width, and from the thickness depends also flexibility and resistance
• Pitch and number of teeth per inch.
  It is defined pitch the number of teeth per inch (1 inch = 25.4 mm). This value is constant when the teeth are ordered in succession at the same distance, all teeth on the blade have uniform spacing, while it is variable when the distance between the teeth is variable, together with different size and depth for the teeth, mainly in order to reduce vibrations.
  Each kind of machining corresponds to an optimal combination pitch-teeth and, choosing the right blade, must be considered also kind, thickness, hardness, toughness and abrasive action of the material to be cut. More the material is hard and abrasive, more will be used dense teeth, while with soft or tough materials the teeth of the blade must be as far as possible. It is also important the fact that the pitch is in relation to the thickness, as if the pitch is too big (teeth too far each other), the pressure on each tooth is excessive and this can cause damages or breakages, while teeth too dense can cause the chips overheating and then the block of the blade
• Shape of the teeth.
  The right choice of the tooth shape allows to obtain an optimal material cut and the reduction of vibrations during the processes.
  • Standard tooth N. It is specifically designed for short chipping materials and light wall thickness. The rake angle is 0° and there are from 4 up to 18 teeth per inch
  • Hook tooth H. It is specifically designed for long chipping and tough materials, and larger sections. The rake angle can be positive and extremely positive, from 0.75 up to 6 teeth per inch
  • Profil tooth P. It is specifically designed for reduced vibration processing, profiles, pipes and beams. The cutting angle is from 0° up to slightly positive, a tooth shape with reinforced profile and from 2/3 variable pitch up to 12/16 teeth per inch
  • Trapezoidal tooth K-pos. It is specifically designed for reduced vibration processing and full materials. The rake angle is positive and there are from 0.75 /1.25 up to 4/6 teeth per inch
• Set: its function is to generate enough space for the passage of the back of the blade without friction. The set also determines the cut thickness and as a result the amount of material removed.
  The two kinds commonly used are the raker (or standard) set and the wavy set. In the raker set there is a tooth bent right, one bent left and one straight. The cut is realized by the two bent teeth, while the straight one brings out the chip. This set is used to cut materials such as steel and non-ferrous hard metals bigger than 5 mm. In the wavy set there is a tooth bent right and a tooth bent left, while between them there are three intermediate teeth. This set is used with hard materials up to 5 mm size. The group or alternate set consists in a sequence of alternate teeth, one oriented to the right followed by one oriented to the left, it is used in case of 4/18 teeth per inch and provides optimal surfaces

Band saw blades

The Guabo band saw blades are made in different sizes and materials in order to answer in the best way to each cutting requirement and each kind of machining.
The range at the customers’ disposal includes bimetal band saw blades, as they are made by two bands of different type of steel, connected thanks to a welding process. In detail, the body of the blade, made of an extremely flexible carbon steel with a hardness of about 50 HRC, matches with a HSS M42 or M51 wire (high speed steel + cobalt) with a hardness of about 67-69 HRC. The great rigidity of the wire allows regularity during the machining, together with a perfect verticality of the cut, both fundamental requirements in order to obtain high performance. In particular the M51 quality allows a further increase in the hardness level, making the blade suitable for the cut of materials particularly tough, as steel, stainless steel, bronze, copper, brass and light alloys.
So the main benefits of bimetal blades are the extreme versatility, the great flexibility of the body and the high resistance to wear of the cutting part. Every single tooth of the blade is made of high speed steel, is tough, durable and extremely powerful. An innovative system of heat treatment allows to obtain a structure exceptionally efficient.

The cutting part can be made also in hard metal. In this case at the high speed steel body is combined a part with teeth made of hard metal.
This kind of blades ensure an extreme hardness and wear resistance, and is dedicated mainly to the machining of materials such as alloys, in particular nickel-based alloys and titanium. A complete range of blades featuring different set types, trapezoidal tooth shape, different hardness and metal carbides mixtures ensure top performances and benefits such as reduced vibration cuts along with clean and smooth surfaces, speed rate, high performance, productivity and efficiency.

In case of more particular cuts, the wire of the blade can be realized also in diamond, a kind of coating characterized by a hardness of about 9000 HV.
These blades are used for the machining of extremely hard and abrasive materials such as granite, marble, glass, quartz, carbon fibers, silicon carbide, reinforced plastics and graphite.
The main benefit is that the diamond is characterized by the maximum hardness possible and allows the cut of any kind of material, ensuring at the same time a perfect final surface. In addition, it is resistant to high stresses generated by high speeds of rotation.

A carbon band saw blade is made of tempered steel and hardened teeth through a heat process in order to offer high performance.
It can be used for general purpose and low cost cutting, but also for non-alloy steel with low resistance, light alloys, plastics and wood cutting when it is necessary to obtain a clean workpiece.
The benefit of an extreme flexible body of the blade together with hardened teeth with an hardness of about 62-65 HRC, is that this ensure reliability, wear resistance and consequently a longer life of the product. Moreover this kind of blade can undergo high forces, providing straighter cuts.

Guabo classifies bimetal blades in three different versions, according to their characteristics, modality and contexts of use:

Bimetal band saw blades

Carbon steel body blade, M42, M51 M81 cobalt based high speed steel teeth Highly versatile blame, suited for a wide range of materials such as alloyed building, steels, stainless steel, bronze, copper, brass, light alloys and iron.

• Uniflex: M42 bimetal blades featuring best value for money. For standard non-severe duty uses. Generic use, standard duty blades, suited for cutting works of small to medium size profiles and/or full materials. Blades recommended for manual machine tools. Iron cutting and low-alloyed steel machine tools.
• Performer: blades featuring outstanding manufacturing quality standards, enhancing performance for good cutting results. For average to heavier duty uses. Standard duty blades, suited for increased cutting performances such as small to medium size profiles and/or full materials. Blades recommended for semi-automatic machines.
• Superior: blades featuring superior manufacturing standards, best cutting performances paired with great speed and quality results. Suited for technical use requiring above-average performances. Blades specifically suited for technical operations requiring increased cutting performance, such as in the case of semi-automatic and automatic machines.

Carbide band saw blades

Steel body spring blades, featuring brazed hard metal teeth for great performance, enhanced cutting rate, significantly reduced manufacturing time and costs.

• Performer: blades featuring outstanding manufacturing quality standards, enhancing performance for good cutting results. For standard non severe duty uses. Standard duty blades, suited for increased cutting performances such as small to medium size profiles and/or full materials. Blades recommended for semi-automatic machines.
• Superior: blades featuring superior manufacturing standards, best cutting performances paired with great speed and quality results. Suited for technical use requiring above-average performances. Blades specifically suited for technical operations requiring increased cutting performance, such as in the case of semi-automatic and automatic machines.

Diamond and grit band saw blades

• Superior: diamond is the hardest materials known to man, it can cut through any material and alloy. Its unique properties applied to blade bodies ensure superior resistance to stress generated by extremely high rotational speed. Diamond tipped blades for special use Commonly used for extremely tough and abrasive materials such as granite, marble, glass, quart , carbide fibre silicon carbide, reinforced plastics, graphite. Galvanic coating of diamond particles, with a diamond hardness of approx. 9000 HV. Versions available with either continuous or alternating coating so to ensure a smoother chipping removal. Also available in its GRIT version, featuring tungsten carbide powder coated cutting edge.

Carbon steel band saw blades

• Uniflex: a carbon band designates a tempered spring steel blade provided with heat hardened teeth. Commonly used for standard applications, for non-alloyed low resistance non-alloyed steels, or low-cost tool solution cuts, wood cuts where work-piece cleaning is required. Highly flexible blade body, tempered teeth translating into great reliability.

Band saw blades running

Proper break-in procedures guarantee a perfect removal of material, a great final result and a long life of the blade. Optimal working conditions and accurate cutting parameters are the right premise to ensure high performance. Before the first use it is important to check that the tension of the blade corresponds to 300 N/mm2 and to verify the condition of the coolant, as this will prevent the overheating of the blade and the attachment of the chips to the blade or to the work piece.

• Bimetal blades: for an optimal blade life it is fundamental a correct blade running, determining also the appropriate cutting speed (m/min), depending on the material to be cut and its size. At first use it is important to run in the new blade with only 50% of the feed rate (mm/min), as in this way it is possible to avoid splinters caused by high chip thickness. With small pieces, during the run in, it is recommended to cut approximately 300 cm2 of material. In case of large pieces it is recommended a break-in period of at least 15 minutes. After this period, it is allowed to slowly increase the feed rate up to the value previously determined
• Carbide blades: after choosing the optimal parameters (as cutting speed, in relation to the material to be cut and its size), depending also on the type of application which the blade is planned for, during the first use, the running must be realized with about 50% of the feed rate (mm/min) and 50% of the speed (m/min). As for the bimetal blades, during the run in with small pieces it is recommended to cut approximately 300 cm2 of material. After a period of approximately 15 minutes, it is possible to slowly increase the cutting speed (m/min) up to the set value, then gradually also the feed rate (mm/min) up to the correct parameter