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Less lubricant results in better sawing?
For fabricators looking to reduce the amount of lubricant they use for sawing applications, lubricants designed for near- dry sawing may be the answer. These minimum quantity lubricants, as they are called, are designed to provide complete...
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Making the abrasive cutoff saw work for you
Providing exact advice on how to get optimal performance from an abrasive cutoff saw is very difficult because each application is unique. Rough guidelines, however, can help a metal fabricator understand the cutting process, troubleshoot problem...
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Transforming structural cutting challenges into profit
Cutting structural steel can pose an incredible challenge because of the different material types and shapes. This challenge is not an impossible task, however, and can be made much easier with the correct blade choice, proper machine operation,...
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Metal Sawing 101: Cold saws and band saws
The process of deciding between a band saw and a cold saw is not always clear-cut. Here are some short answers to this and other frequently asked sawing questions
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Selecting a cold saw to fit your requirements
When it’s time to purchase a cold saw for your fabricating operation, how can you be sure that you’re choosing the right equipment? Knowing the questions to ask can help you make the appropriate selection.
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A band saw blade survival guide
A fab shop has diverse cutting requirements, so choosing the proper blades to suit all the required applications is vital.
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Band saw blade basics
Making interrupted cuts on materials like structurals, tubes, bundles, and angle iron can wreak havoc on your band saw blade. Not following proper blade break-in procedures can be just as damaging. Following a few tips for both can keep your band...
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Band saw or circular cold saw?
The latest technology advancements between band saws and circular saws have made the choice between the two technologies less clear-cut.
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So what if one saw cuts faster than another?
Two similar saws might have significantly different cutting speeds, and given a choice, most fabricators would choose the faster saw. However, the saw's speed isn't the only factor that affects efficiency. Material handling before and after the...
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Sawing with the times
Modernization has brought us many advancements, and two big advancements that fabricators must deal with are in technology and commerce. On the technology side, advancements have led to modern alloys; on the commerce side, we have increased...
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Making the most of your saw blade
Recognizing heat and vibration in sawing applications is easy. The tough part is finding out why they are happening. By becoming familiar with blade speed and feed rates, blade selection, and blade break-in, fabricators will find that the saw...
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Bundles of Joy
Using a band saw to cut bundles of structural shapes is good for productivity but bad for band saw blade wear. Knowledge of application-specific tooth designs, tooth pitch, band tension, band speeds, and cutting fluid will help maintain blade life.
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Sawing? Cool it.
Nearly every metal sawing operation can become more cost-effective with a properly mixed and maintained sawing coolant. Proper use of sawing coolant improves cutting rates by balancing the combination of cooling and lubrication of the blade....
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Angling for a good cut
Good sawing and maintenance practices can help alleviate problems that can occur when making angle cuts in structurals and tubing. Addressing the stock, machine setup, the blade, the cutting fluid, and the saw itself may not completely rid...
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Cutting right to the point
Experience and education are allowing metal fabricators to become more familiar with circular saw blades and the saw designed to run them. Choosing and applying the correct blade, along with proper maintenance, can provide an efficient method for...
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Cutting to the chase - Integrating secondary operations
Tube cut-off machines have evolved to integrate end forming and bending capabilities that normally are considered secondary operations. The suitability of a cutting method to be integrated inline with end forming and bending depends on each...
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Creating an efficient offline band sawing system Part II
Planning an offline band sawing system can be complicated because it can affect, and is affected by, many interrelated factors. Breaking it down to infeed, sawing, and outfeed helps to frame the planning by breaking it down to three subprocesses....
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Creating an efficient offline band sawing system
Planning an offline band sawing system can be complicated because it can affect, and is affected by, many interrelated factors. Breaking it down to infeed, sawing, and outfeed helps to frame the planning by breaking it down to three subprocesses....
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Creating an efficient offline band sawing system Part I
Planning an offline band sawing system can be complicated because it can affect, and is affected by, many interrelated factors. Breaking it down to infeed, sawing, and outfeed helps to frame the planning by breaking it down to three subprocesses....
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Band sawing in short order
Many metal fabricators, machine manufacturers, welding repair shops, and steel service centers encounter unique metal separation problems, particularly with band sawing. They often have to cut a variety of metal grades, shapes, and sizes with only...
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Preventive maintenance on sawing equipment
Usually no more than 30 to 60 minutes are needed to do all of the necessary checks and maintenance on band saws. This is a small investment of time in relation to the cost savings that can be attained by maximizing the life of the machine and blade.
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Miter sawing adds eye appeal to structural steel
As a structural steel fabricator, you may have operated a miter saw. The fact is, however, in many other shops the miter feature has rarely been used because, traditionally, most steel buildings—from the skyscraper to the humble...
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Boosting band saw blade life
Because intermittent cutting can be hard on blades, you should find ways to increase blade productivity for your environment. Several guidelines, such as selecting the right blade tooth size, breaking in the blades, and choosing the right blade...
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Pursuing a plate-cutting saw
Metal Cutting Service, City of Industry (Los Angeles), Calif., specializes in sawing metals. President David Viel explained the company's strategy: "We do not buy or sell anything, we just add value to others' products." Although it does very...
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Band sawing bundled shapes
Bundled side by side or top to bottom, thin-walled structural metal shapes pose a productivity dilemma for sawing shops. Band saw efficiency typically is measured in cubic inches of stock removed per minute, and the most efficient cuts are those...
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Making hands-free straight, saddle, and miter cuts
Rovanco Piping Systems Inc. designs and fabricates piping systems for applications such as water (hot and cold), steam, and jet fuel. It sells fabricated pipe—typically with straight or miter end cuts—up to 36 inches in diameter. It...
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Take the old with the new - Selecting saw blades with new technologies in mind
New methods for cutting tube and pipe have been introduced to welding shops in the last few years—methods designed not only to cut metal, but also to cut costs.
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Boatmaker finds new saw for trailer production
At its factory in Vonore, Tenn., MasterCraft builds boats and trailers in adjacent bays. It offers the option of a trailer with every ski boat it sells.
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Cutting exotic alloys
Cutting tubing with a circular cutoff saw is a common metal fabrication operation. This type of saw can produce a smooth finish that requires little secondary finishing.
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Making the cut
Band sawing is the starting point for many tube and pipe fabricating operations, and it can help determine the throughput and profitability of your whole shop. Maximizing the productivity of tube or pipe cutoff requires a coordinated approach to...
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Automating reciprocating saw blade production
Milwaukee Electric Tool Corporation faced the problem of finding reciprocating saw blade production equipment that could withstand continuous on-demand operation, accommodate a variety of material thicknesses, and fit into its tight floor space...
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Anatomy of an abrasive cutting machine
This article discusses the components that make up a modern abrasive cutting machine. Many of the design considerations are based on the characteristics of the cutting wheel. The author also discusses feeding systems, vises, ejection systems, and...
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Sawing structural and architectural tubing
This article examines common fabrication processes for structural and architectural tube. It specifically focuses on cutting, sawing, miter cutting, bundle sawing, and cambering.
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Cutting through the obstacles
Of all the materials that can be cut on industrial band saw machines, structural steels—such as pipe and tubing, plate, angle and channel iron, and I beams—are all among the most common and challenging.
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Putting a spark into cutting productivity
There are many ways to cut sheet, plate, tubing, and structural shapes, ranging from a hand hacksaw to power shears and lasers.
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What is your facility cut out for? Circular and band saw purchases depend on application requirements
What cutting equipment you buy depends very heavily on what area of industry you are supplying, throughput requirements, and, not least, finances. Don't let preconceived notions prevent you from making the very best possible decision.
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Increasing productivity on your cutoff saw
All of the components of a tube cutting job—the workpiece, the blade, the saw, and the cutting fluid included—have to work together optimally to maximize your productivity.
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Band saw cutting of tube and pipe: Tips for blade selection and machine settings
Production quantities of cut tube and pipe can be produced economically with a band saw. However, the choice of which blade to use is very important in maintaining a low cost per cut.
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