Metal-cutting bandsaw machines fall into two basic categories: vertical machines (Figure 7-2) and horizontal machines (Figure 7-3). Band saws use a continuous saw blade. Chip removal is rapid, because each tooth is a precision cutting tool and accuracy can be held to close tolerances eliminating or minimizing many secondary machining operations.

VERTICAL BANDSAWING MACHINE

  The metal-cutting vertical band sawing machine, also called a contour machine, is made in a variety of sizes and models by several manufacturers. The size of a contour machine is determined by the throat depth, which is the distance from the saw band to the column. Figure 7-2 shows a typical contour machine and identifies its main parts, which are discussed below.

• The head is the large unit at the top of the contour machine that contains the saw band idler wheel, the drive motor switch, the tension adjustment hand wheel and mechanism, a flexible air line (directs a jet of air at the work to keep layout lines free from chips), and the adjustable post which supports the upper saw guide. The job selector dial is also located on the head.

• The column contains the speed indicator dial, which is driven by a cable from the transmission and indicates the speed in feet per minute (FPM). The butt welder is also mounted on the column.

Figure 7-2 Vertical band sawing machine.

• The base contains the saw band drive wheel, the motor, and the transmission. The transmission has two speed ranges. The low range gives speeds from 50 FPM to 375 FPM. The high range gives speeds from 260 FPM to 1,500 FPM. A shift lever on the back of the base can be placed in the high, low, or neutral position. Low is recommended for all speeds under 275 FPM. The base also supports the table and contains the lower saw band guide, which is mounted immediately under the table slot. The power feed mechanism is located within the base, and the feed adjustment handle and foot pedal are located on the front of the base.

VARIABLE SPEED UNIT

    The variable speed unit is located within the base of the machine. This unit consists of two V-type pulleys which are mounted on a common bearing tube. A belt on one pulley is driven by the transmission, while the belt on the other pulley drives the saw band drive wheel. The two outside cones of the pulleys are fixed, but the middle cone is shifted when the speed change wheel is turned. A shift in the middle cone causes the diameter of one pulley to increase and the diameter of the other pulley to decrease. This slowly changes the ratio between the two pulleys and permits a gradual increase or decrease in the speed of the machine.

HORIZONTAL BANDSAW MACHINE

   The horizontal band sawing machine does the same job as the power hacksaw but does it more efficiently. The blade of the handsaw is actually a continuous band which revolves around a drive wheel and idler wheel in the band support frame. Two band guides use rollers to twist the band so that the teeth are in the proper cutting position. The guides are adjustable and should be adjusted so that they are just slightly further apart than the width of the material to be cut. This will give maximum support to the saw band and help assure a straight cut.

   The vise on the horizontal bandsaw is much like the one on the power hacksaw. However, the horizontal bandsaw has a much greater capacity for large stock than does the power hacksaw. The stationary jaw can be set at several angles. The movable jaw adjusts automatically to whatever position the stationary jaw is in when the vise handwheel is tightened.

   The horizontal bandsaw is operated hydraulically by controls on a control box, which is located on the front side of the machine. A motor and pump assembly supplies hydraulic fluid from a reservoir in the base to a cylinder, which raises and lowers the support arm and also controls the feed pressure and band tension. A speed and feed chart is sometimes provided on the machine, but when it is not, consult the operator's manual for the proper settings for sawing.

Figure 7-3. Horizontal bandsaw.

   A coolant pump is located in one of the legs of the base, which serves as a coolant reservoir. The coolant cools the saw band and also washes away chips from the cut before they can clog the band.