Bandsaw Troubleshooting
BLADE EFFECT | PROBABLE CAUSE | SOLUTION |
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• Incorrect Blade
• Band tension too high • Excessive feed • Incorrect cutting fluid • Wheel diameter too small for blade width • Worn or chipped pressure block • Blade rubbing on wheel flange • Teeth in contact with work before starting sawing • Side guides too tight |
• Check tooth selection
• Reduce band tension, refer to operators manual • Reduce feed pressure • Check coolant recommendations • Use narrower blade • Replace worn pressure blocks • Adjust wheel alignment • Allow blade clearance above work • Refer to operators manual |
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• Blade on machine backwards
• Improper blade break-in procedure • Hard material or heavy surface scale • Material is work hardening • Improper cutting fluid or mix ratio • Speed or feed too high |
• Install blade correctly
• Refer to recommended procedures • Check material hardness and surface condition • Increase feed pressure • Follow coolant mixing procedures • Check cutting recommendations |
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• Guide arms too far apart
• Blade worn out • Over or under feeding • Improper tooth pitch • Curing fluid not applied properly • Too many teeth for material cross-section • Guides worn or loose |
• Adjust guide arms closer to material
• Replace blade • Check cutting recommendations • Use proper tooth selection • Adjust coolant nozzles • Use proper tooth selection • Tighten or replace guides |
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• Over feeding
• Low band tension • Tooth set damaged • Guide arms loose or space too wide |
• Check cutting recommendations
• Refer to operators manual • Check material hardness • Adjust guides and guide anns |
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• Worn or missing chip brush
• Improper or lack of cutting fluid • Wrong coolant ratio • Excessive feed or speed • Incorrect blade pitch |
• Replace or adjust chip brush
• Check coolant flow and fluid type • Check coolant type and ratio • Reduce feed or speed • Use proper tooth selection |
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• Indexing while blade in work
• Blade not high enough before index • Saw head drifts into work while neutral |
• Adjust index sequence
• Adjust height selector • Check hydraulic cylinder |
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• Improper blade break-in procedure
• Speed too slow • Feed pressure to high • Tooth jammed in cut • Poor cutting fluid application or ratio • Hard material or heavy scale • Wrong blade pitch • Work spinning or loose nested bundles • Blade on backwards |
• Follow proper break-in procedure
• Refer to cutting recommendations • Reduce feed pressure • Do not enter new blade in that cut • Adjust coolant flow and ration • Check material or surface hardness • Use proper tooth selection • Tighten vices or use nesting clamps • Install blade correctly |
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• Saw guides not properly adjusted
• Incorrect feed or speed • Incorrect blade • Material moved in vice |
• Align or adjust saw guides
• Refer to cutting recommendations • Use proper blade type and pitch • Inspect and adjust vices |
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• Excessive back-up guide preload
• Low blade tension • Incorrect blade (carbon steel type) • Excessive feed rate or pressure • Damaged or worn pressure block • Guide arms spaced too far apart • Blade rubbing band wheel flanges |
• Adjust pressure blocks
• Refer to operators manual • Switch to a Bimetal blade • Reduce feed rate or pressure • Replace pressure block • Adjust guide arms closer to work • Adjust wheel alignment |
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• Dull or damaged blade
• Incorrect feed or speed • Blade not supported properly • Low blade tension • Incorrect tooth pitch • Guide arms too far apart |
• Install new blade
• Refer to cutting recommendations • Adjust or tighten guide arms • Refer to operators manual • Use proper tooth selection • Adjust guide arms closer to material |
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• Saw side guides too tight
• Blade riding too high in guide • Blade teeth riding on band wheel surface • Wrong blade width for machine • Chips be carried back into cut • Worn or damaged pressure block • Insufficient coolant flow |
• Adjust guides properly
• Adjust rollers or pressure blocks • Adjust tracking or replace wheel • Refer to operators manual • Replace or adjust chip brush • Replace pressure block • Adjust coolant flow |
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• Blade binding in cut
• Side guides are too tight • Work loose in vice • Feed to heavy • Guide arms too far apart |
• Adjust feed or use heavy set blades
• Adjust guides • Adjust vices • Reduce feed pressure • Adjust guide arms closer to material |
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• Incorrect blade
• Heavy feed or too fast speed Lack of cutting fluid • Blade installed backwards |
• Use proper tooth selection
• Refer to cutting recommendations • Adjust coolant flow or ratio • Install blade correctly |
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• Material loose in vice
• Incorrect tooth pitch • Feed too fast • Speed too fast |
• Adjust vices
• Use proper tooth selection • Reduce feed rate • Refer to cutting recommendations |