CUTTING FORCE CHECK BULLETIN NO. 900414
The hydraulic control system or spring balance
Place a block of wood on the scale and lower the saw
mechanism of a band saw machine applies uniformly
blade onto the block. Repeatedly tap the saw blade
controlled pressure to the saw blade. After being
lightly with a screw driver while lowering it. If the
cleaned and adjusted, the machine must maintain
hydraulic system or spring balance mechanism is
an applied pressure at the saw blade of 50 lbs. or less.
working properly, a minimum setting on the cutting
pressure control will register 50 lbs. or less on the
If the band saw applies 50 lbs. of cutting pressure at
scale.
the minimum setting of the cutting pressure con-
trol, the pressure can readily be increased as re-
If the pressure on the scale continues to increase,
quired for heavier cutting. Excessive pressure
this indicates either a leak in the hydraulic system
causes the blade to deflect or strip teeth.
or improper adjustment. This must be corrected
before the machine is operated. Unless the above
For the cost of a bathroom scale (which is less than
procedure is followed, applied pressure is unknown
the cost of one saw blade), the actual applied cutting
and the machine may destroy several blades before
pressure may be determined. To check the machine,
the problem is recognized.
stop the blade and lay the scale on the saw bed.
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