4 Questions to Ask When Purchasing Diamond Blades

27 May.,2024

 

4 Questions to Ask When Purchasing Diamond Blades

When it comes time to buy diamond blades there are a few things you should take in to account before making your purchase. What are you cutting? What kind of saw are you using? Is the application wet or dry? What is the diameter of blade that you need? These four questions can help you find the perfect blade that will help you get the most of the job you&#;re working on.

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One: What are you cutting?

 

This will determine the metallurgical bond of the blade necessary. The bond is a combination of metals used to form the segment, and what controls how fast new diamond is exposed during the cutting process. Use a blade for the specific material you are cutting. Any reputable manufacturer will list what materials you can cut on the package. The wrong bond will lead to blade failure in different ways; too soft of a bond and the blade will wear out too fast. Too hard of a bond and the blade will stop cutting shortly after you start using it.

 

Two: What kind of saw are you using?

 

Different horsepower requires different types of blades. Higher horsepower saws require more diamond than low horsepower saws. Saw RPMs vary by setup for blade size. For example, you can take a 48hp saw that is set up for a 36&#; blade, and install an 18&#; blade guard for smaller requirements. If the pulleys aren&#;t changed, the blade will turn at the recommended speed of a 36&#; which is much too slow for an 18&#;. These factors have to be taken in to account to get the best performance out of your blades.

 

Three: Is the application your cutting wet or dry?

 

Knowing if you will have water on the job site is important when selecting any Diamond Blade. Smaller diamond blades are designed to cut dry but can also cut equally well wet. The key to dry cutting is making shallow passes, and letting the blade spin in the air every minute or so to cool it down. Larger diameter (24&#; and above) must be used with water because of the depth of cut. There is no easy way to cool large diameter blades without water.

 

Four: What size of Diamond Blade do I need?

 

There are a lot of different things to consider when selecting your Diamond Blade. Many of those variables revolve around what tool you&#;re using. You always want to make sure you&#;re putting the right size blade on the right saw. The RPM of the saw will vary based on the blade diameter it&#;s designed for. Always use the tool (or saw) that&#;s designed for the cutting depth you need, and then choose your diamond blade to suit. See the depth chart below:

 

If you ask yourself these four questions this will help you pick out the right and best suited blade for you and your job.

Choosing Diamond Tools

Single Point Diamond Tool

Single Point Indexable Diamond Tools

MultiPoint Diamond Tools

If you want to learn more, please visit our website Litian Century.

Diamond Cluster Tools

The market is filled with diamond tool options and not every tool is created equally. The following four questions can be used to help choose the proper diamond tool for your application.

1. Are you using a simple or an intricate form? 

Simple Form

Grit Tool: Long tool life and reduced dressing costs  

Intricate Form

Single Point: the metal surrounding the diamond(s) in a grit tool could hit the sides of the wheel, resulting in a form error. 

Special form tools with coned or chiseled diamond tips: The diamonds in these tools are lapped in a way that allows you to hit all those small angles and radii in your form. The more intricate your form, the more intricate you need your tool to be.

2. Do you value initial cost or overall price?

Non-resettable tools

The diamonds only have one settable point and are disposable with a low initial cost.  Non-resettable tools are also the most cost efficient option if resetting is not practical. 

Resettable tools 

The diamonds used for these tools are higher quality with multiple points suitable for dressing (up to four settable points). Once the diamond has been worn, return the tool to the factory for the diamond to be reset it in a new shank. Although there is a higher upfront cost, resetting the diamond costs a fraction of a new single point tool and yields significant savings over time. 

3. What carat size does your abrasive supplier recommend for the width and diameter of your wheel?

When it comes to choosing the carat weight for your diamond tool, think about the wheel diameter and width of your machine; the larger these numbers are, the larger the carat weight must be. If you are unsure, follow your abrasive supplier&#;s guidelines. Using an undersized diamond causes the stones to become superheated, even when grinding wet, which will soften the stone and cause undue wear to your machine and poor wheel conditioning.

4. Are you concerned about turning your dressing tools? 

Some are reluctant to turn dressing tools, even though it extends the life of the tool, because of the risk of misalignment. Indexable tools solve this problem by not requiring loosening during indexing.  This alleviates the risk of misalignment and makes them the tool of choice for many operators. With a two-part construction featuring separate head and shank pieces, it is easy to simply turn the indexable head with a wrench while the tool shank stays in place. 

 

For an in-depth look at dressing solutions, check out our article on optimizing grinding processes with the proper truing and dressing tools. There are a lot of considerations to make when choosing the appropriate diamond tool for your job, but the decision does not have to be intimidating.

Are you interested in learning more about Diamond Cutting Tools? Contact us today to secure an expert consultation!