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M1113 18" Wood/Metal Bandsaw
OPERATIONS
Blade Selection
(Metal Cutting)
Selecting the right blade for the job depends on
a variety of factors, such as the type of mate
-
rial being cut, hardness of the material, material
shape machine capability, and operator tech
-
nique.
The chart below is a basic starting point for
choosing a blade type based on teeth per inch
(TPI) for variable tooth pitch blades and for
standard raker type bi-metal blades/HSS blades.
However,
for exact specifications of bandsaw
blades, contact the blade manufacturer
.
To select the correct blade TPI, do these steps:
1. Measure the material thickness.
2. Refer to the "Material Width/Diameter"
row of the blade selection chart in Figure
46 and read across to find the workpiece
thickness you need to cut
.
3. Compare the "Material Shapes" row to the
material to be cut.
4. In the applicable row, read across to the
right and find the box where the row and
column intersect. Listed in the box is the
minimum TPI recommended for the vari
-
able tooth pitch blades.
5. The "Cutting Speed Rate Recommendation"
section of the charts offers guidelines for
various metals, given in feet per minute
(speed FPM) and meters per minute in
parenthesis. Choose the speed closest to
the number shown in the chart.
Material Width/Diameter
Material Shapes
Teeth Per Inch Variable Pitch Blades
Figure 46. Blade selection and speed chart.