You should put some images in here with certifications like the Better Business Bureau or any awards General Cutting Tools has. January 31, 2010
Saw Blade Alignment on a Table Saw Chicago
Here are some tips for a correct use of a saw blade by Freud and Cutting Tools Chicago aka General Cutting Tools.
- If the saw blade and the saw are not correctly aligned to the table and the fence, then there is the possibility that a serious accident may occur such as violent kickbacks. An improperly aligned saw can also cause burning, splintering or chipping on the workpiece. Always read and follow all instructions and warnings contained on the machine, on the tool or the tool packaging, and in the operators manual for the machine.
- Before carrying out the following instructions, make sure that the starter switch is off and that the power is disconnected from the machine. Follow all company and OSHA procedures for “Equipment Power Lockout”.
- Mounting the the saw blade onto the table: We advise you to use precise measuring instruments when mounting the saw blade onto the arbor. Adjust the arbor to its maximum height. With the aid of the most precise measuring instrument at hand, verify that the saw blade is parallel to the miter gauge slots (Fig. 16). Adjust as needed. This step is necessary to obtain crosscuts with the maximum in quality finish and for setting up the fence for ripping.
- Positioning the fence for ripping: After you have positioned the saw blade so that it’s parallel to the miter gauge slots, you may proceed with setting the fence. The fence should be set in accordance with the instructions found in the operators manual for your machine. Machine manufacturers have recommended fence settings that if not followed could cause injury or death.
- The maximum RPM of a circular saw blade varies based on the diameter of the saw blade (table 1). Never exceed the maximum RPM on the blade. Doing so could result in serious injury, ury, or death.
- The saw blade’s projection (t) with respect to the work piece must be greater than the height of the blade’s tooth (fig. 18). Increase or decrease the projection of the saw blade to improve finish quality.
- The number of teeth cutting (the wood simultaneously) (fig. 19) must be between 3 or 4 for ripping and ideally 5 to 7 for crosscutting. With less than three teeth cutting, the saw blade begins to vibrate leading to an uneven cut. If you want to cut work pieces with increased thicknesses (T – fig. 21), but wish to maintain the same diameter saw blade, then use a blade with less teeth. If instead you want to cut work pieces with a reduced thickness, but also maintain the same diameter saw blade, then use a blade with more teeth.
- Rakers (Fig. 22) are carbide inserts that are brazed onto saw blades exclusively for cutting wood. They help keep a distance between the saw blade body and the work piece, in order to avoid friction and overheating which cause the blade to deform.
- On saw blades for multiripping machines the anti-kickback device is advised in cases where wood has loose knots and minimizes damage that may occur.
- The keyways do not allow blades for multiripping machines to rotate the arbor when working (Fig. 23).
- The pairing of blade and arbor with keyways is excellent in all cases where the keyways are the same (Fig. 23) or smaller then the blade slots (Fig. 24).
- You should avoid mounting a saw blade with 2 keyways on an arbor with 1 keyway slot, because the spindle will not be balanced. Custom bores and keyways for blades can be arranged.
- On multiripping saw blades, the thickness of the work piece (S) varies second to the diameter of the blade (0) and the minimum diameter (01) of the rakers (the rakers position may vary from blade to blade – Fig. 28).
- Shoulder blade ensures correct distribution of lateral forces created by crooked planks in heavy duty use. The shoulder blade must be the first blade on the guide side of the multiripping machine.
- Always use a shoulder blade with the set of multiripping blades (Fig. 27).
For more information, contact General Cutting Tools, your authorized Freud distributor.
January 30, 2010
Freud Tips for Correct Use of a Saw Blade Chicago
Tips for a Correct Use of a Saw Blade from Freud and Cutting Tools Chicago aka General Cutting Tools Chicago Illinois.
- The saw arbor must be in good condition, free of vibrations.
- The flanges used to secure the blade must be of the same diameter, at least 1/3 of the blade’s diameter (Fig. 1).
- The machine hub and flange must be parallel to each other. Check tolerances on diameters, sides and concentricity by using a dial indicator (Fig. 2). The total indicated runout should be less than .02mm (.0008″).
- Inspect the hub of the machine to ensure there are no burrs or debris in or around the mounting area.
- The spacers must be perfectly parallel (Fig. 2).
- The spindle must be perfectly straight and with an h7 tolerance (Fig. 3).
- After continuous use, remove the blade and clean it with the appropriate solvents making sure to get rid of built up resin. For the Perma-SHIELD° synthetic coated blades it’s sufficient to use warm water. In any case, avoid using caustic cleansers as they can break down the carbide.
- The blades must be sharpened as soon as they become dull,
- maintaining the original tooth angles. Avoid over-running dull blades to attain maximum sharpenings from the saw blade
- For sharpening, always use the correct grinding wheels and plenty of cooling liquid.
- Maximum reboring of the blade is 20 mm of the original bore size.
- Above this value, the blade will lose its original tuning and overall performance will be affected (Fig. 4).
- Always keep spacers and flanges clean.
- When sharpening, the shoulder of the teeth must not be lowered more than needed. This operation must be done with appropriate precision machinery and never by hand. There is the risk of breaking the tip or upsetting the blade balance (Fig. 5-6).
- For Typical sharpening a good rule of thumb is to remove just enough carbide to pass the worn edge of the carbide. If you can take even amounts of the ultra square tooth designed tooth, this will maximize the overall life of the blade.
- On ripping machines, the feeding track must be level with the fixed table.
- Before starting the cut of the material, make sure the blade is correctly locked according to the machine’s specifications.
- Never scribe, etch or engrave inside the flange or hub area on a saw blade.
- Adjust saw height to maintain the minimum top clearance projection of the saw blade.
- Saw blades utilizing a score blade: The scoring blade should be set up to cut .01 mm (.004″) wider than the main blade and no more than 2.Omm (.08″) deep.
Different tooth geometry allows the blade to improve the cutting finish second to the material being worked. These are general rules of thumb:
- The flat tooth (Fig. 7) is used on multirip saw blades, saw blades for portable machines and universal saw blades.
- The alternate top bevel (ATB) tooth (Fig.
produces a fine cut, and is used on blades for crosscutting wood. - The “triple chip” tooth (TCG) (Fig. 9) is used on saw blades for cutting wood composite materials, aluminum and other plastic materials.
- The “conical tooth/alternate top bevel (ATB)” (Fig. 10) is used on scoring blades for cutting wood composite materials.
- The tooth’s hook angle is another variable that factors into a saw blade’s applicability for cutting various woods, aluminum or plastics.
- A tooth’s hook angle ranging from 15° to 25° is suited for cutting soft, hard and exotic wood.
- A tooth’s hook angle ranging from 5° to 15° is particularly suited for cutting chipboard, MDF, plywood and laminates.
- A tooth’s hook angle ranging from 0 to 5° is indicated for cutting chipboard panels and non ferrous metals.
- A tooth’s hook angle ranging from 0 to -10° (negative hook angle) is indicated for cutting aluminum, non ferrous metals, plastics and double sided laminated panels.
For more information contact General Cutting Tools, your authorized Freud distributor shipping to Indiana, Iowa, Wisconsin, Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota and the rest of the US.
January 29, 2010
Freud Leader in Manufacturing & Engineering Chicago Illinois
Feel the Freud difference in technology and quality in the tools from Cutting Tools Chicago aka General Cutting Tools. Premium Anti Fatigue Steel Pre-Hardened and pre-flattened steel (46 to 48 Rc)-recognized as the world’s highest quality steel-ensures precision manufacturing and performance longevity, even under heavy load.
Average Soft Rolled Steel
Rolled, soft steel (30 Rc) cannot maintain precision manufacturing tolerances and is therefore unable to remain stable and precise under load.
Hi-Performance Laser Cut Revolutionary high-tech lasers cut each Freud saw blade, ensuring a precise blade body time after time. These lasers are so powerful, Freud is able to utilize a high strength steel (46 to 48 Rc) for the blade bodies, so they will remain flat and true, even after years of use.
Competitors Stamped Die Cut Blades
Most other manufacturers are forced to use a softer metal (30 Rc) because the ,stamp’ or die is also made of steel. This punching process cuts 2/3 of the way through the material; the remaining 1/3 is stretched until it tears. This process creates stresses in the blade that often lead to blade flexing and ‘wandering’ within the cut.
Safety Feature: Kickback Reducing Design
New shoulder design for added safety, reduces the effects of dangerous kickbacks and make the saw blades good at cutting wood with lose knots & nails, and are superb at cutting even the poorest quality chipboard.
Competitors No Safety Feature
Saw blades without anti-kickback system gives no safety benefit at all to the user and may also damage the blade and the workpiece itself.
Anti-vibration Technology
Freud’s anti-vibration design stabilizes the blade to reduce chatter for a flawless finish and long life. This feature also produces a low noise saw blade.
Competitors No anti-vibration
Saw blades without anti-vibration vent technology can move sidways in the cut producing chattering and noise, resulting in poor cut quality.
Balancing
All Freud blades are precision balanced to ensure vibration-free cuts. Blades are balanced on computer-controlled equipment that determines exactly where material needs to be removed. Once material is removed its rechecked to ensure a perfectly balanced blade.
Competitors Imperfectly Balanced Saw Blades
A non-balanced blade has different weights in various parts of its body which evokes vibration during rotation and an unbalanced blade can also chatter and create unnecessary rework costing quality, time, and money.
Tensioning Ring
Pretensioning balances the centrifugal and thermal forces the blade endures while cutting and secures that the blade stays truer under load. Freud’s exclusive computer-controlled equipment pretensions the blades, leaving a faint ring near the outside diameter of the blades.
Competitors Non-Tensioned Blade
Some manufactures do not tension their blades. Saw blades that are not properly tensioned cannot handle changes in temperature and stresses endured in standard cutting applications. A non-tensioned blade can lead to an unstable cut causing premature wear of carbide teeth, poor cutting finish and a reduction in the cutting life of a saw blade.
Expansion Slots Reduce Noise
The Freud designed laser cut expansion slots are unique in design to dissipate blade stress over a greater area and produce a quieter operation.
Competitors High Noise with Die Cut Expansion Slots
Other designs are not as effective at reducing stress. Punched holes can lead to cracking and high noise.
Super Square Tooth Design
The super square tooth cuts more precisely than a normal tooth and with a higher number of sharpenings, lasts longer than standard teeth.
Competitors Normal Tooth
The larger cutting surface of a traditional tooth compromises the cutting quality because the tool tends to follow the work pieces grain.
Tri-metal Brazing
Freud’s innovative Tri-Metal Brazing process bonds the carbide tips to the steel blade body. This method consists of copper alloy sandwiched between layers of silver alloy. The copper allows for flexibility and impact resistance to protect the carbide tips and steel shoulders when cutting knots, laminates, hardwoods, etc.
Competitors Standard Brazing
Other manufacturers only use silver alloy, which does not allow for expansion during operation. This causes the bond to develop stresses, leading to cracks in the carbide and failed joints.
Freud’s technology can be yours, in your shop. Contact General Cutting Tools for a free quote on anything in the Freud catalog. General Cutting Tools, your authorized Freud dealer.
January 28, 2010
Freud Leaders in Coating Technology Chicago Illinois
All Freud blades feature industry-first protective coatings to shield the blades from extreme heat, build-up and corrosion; all of which are available from Cutting Tools Chicago aka General Cutting Tools.
About Freud’s Silver I.C.E. (Industrial Cooling Element) Coating
Silver I.C.E.TM Coating – a revolutionary new coating that resists corrosion and resin or “pitch” build-up and resists heat up to 2X longer than standard polished blades.
Blades featuring Silver I.C.E.TM Coating resist corrosion and build-up, and have 2 times more heat resistance and life than polished blades.
Silver I.C.E TM Coating protects the blade from heat stress that can cause rapid loss of tension, which in turn causes blade warp, over heating and poor cut quality. Additionally, this coating reduces the possibility for pitch build-up, which further reduces the heat element responsible for drag on the motor. Less drag means longer tool life and longer blade life. Less pitch also means less down time for blade cleaning.
About Freud’s Titanium SHIELD TM Coating
Titanium SHIELD T11 – a state of the art aluminum/titanium coating option available only by Freud to dramatically prolong the life of panel saw blades by 7X over standard polished blades.
Titanium SHIELD TM Coating virtually eliminates heat generated from friction. The non-stick coating envelops the blade plate and cutting edge in a protective layer resulting in complete thermal insulation in even the harshest conditions. Blades coated with Titanium SHIELD TM resist binding in large volume cutting, which reduces blade warp. This lubricating feature allows the blades to spin freely and reduce stress on the motor and saw carriage, in turn prolonging the life of the machine. Like Silver I.C.E., Titanium SHIELDTm eliminates pitch and debris buildup reducing down time for cleaning. Recommended only for applications cutting stacked material greater than 40mm in height.
Coated Blades Reduce Blade Drag Freud’s coatings significantly reduce blade drag keeping the blade cool, improving the quality of cut, and extending the life of the blade.
Competitors Standard Uncoated Saw Blades
A non-coated saw blade produces more drag and develops more heat. This heat distorts most saw blades, compromising its cut quality and reducing its cutting life.
Prevents Corrosion
Freud coatings protect the blade from humidity and corrosion, therefore improving feed rate and extending the life of the blade.
Competitors Open to Corrosion
A non-coated saw blade is more susceptible to corrosion, therefore increasing blade drag, reducing blade life, and causing more strain on the saw’s motor.
Reduces Pitch Build-up
Freud’s coatings reduces pitch build up; maintaining the quality of cut and reducing blade clean up time.
Competitors Pitch Build-up
A non-coated saw blade is receptive to pitch build up; altering the blade’s cutting performance with life and finish.
All Freud tools are available from General Cutting Tools. Contact us today for a free quote. We ship to all of Wisconsin, Michigan, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Minnesota and the rest of the US.
January 27, 2010
Freud Leaders in Carbide Technology Chicago Illinois
Freud along with Cutting Tools Chicago aka General Cutting Tools is bringing Freud to the Chicago market with not only new tools but also resharpening and reconditioning service shipping to Iowa, Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin, Indiana, Minnesota and the rest of the US.
TiCoTm Hi-Density Carbide is a new specially formulated, highly compact Titanium (Ti) Cobalt (Co) Carbide engineered and manufactured by Freud to maximize performance on all Freud cutting tools.
This new carbide is much smaller and more densely packed than other carbides on the market today, enabling the carbide teeth on Freud’s blades, bits and cutters to last up to four times longer than standard products. Carbide size and density are extremely important when it comes to sharpness as well as the rate at which an edge wears. In woodworking applications, the larger the carbide grain, the faster an edge will wear.
While standard carbides measure as large as 5 microns, and an advanced micrograin carbide can measure at 1 micron, Freud’s TiCo Hi-Density carbide is miniscule in comparison at .6-.8 microns, with a super density blend as small as .4 microns making it ideal for laminates.
TiCoTm Hi-Density Carbide Freud’s premium quality TiCo Hi-Density Carbide allows for a sharper edge that gives a better finish with a dramatically longer cutting life. And, since the grains are much smaller and more dense there is not as dramatic a loss to the cutting edge, so wear occurs much more slowly.
Standard Grade Carbide
Large grain carbides cannot be sharpened to such tight tolerances and as a result leave a rougher finish. Plus, the cutting edge wears much more quickly due to larger pieces of material eroding away with use. In fact, after just a few cuts with standard carbides, life and finish begin to suffer.
Using precise mixtures of Cobalt (for impact resistance), Titanium (for its anti-corrosive properties), Tungsten (for its hardness), and a number of proprietary elements, Freud creates over 20 different blends of TiCo Hi-Density Carbide designed specifically to maximize blade life and material finish in a variety of applications. Other carbides that are purchased “off-the-shelf” are usually non-specific and therefore will not maintain the proper tooth geometry or sharp edge.
Freud’s Industrial Carbide Blends range from highly impact resistant for durability in ripping to extremely hard for maintaining a sharp edge in laminate cutting. The panel saw blades feature TiCoTm Hi-Density Panel Sizing Blend—the newest advanced blend of super dense, sub micro grain carbide was designed exclusively by Freud for panel-sizing applications.
Contact General Cutting Tools, your authorized Freud Distributor.
January 26, 2010
January 25, 2010
January 24, 2010
Greenfield Taping Speeds Tech Tip
Taping speeds are significant to your tap life. Cutting Tools Chicago aka General Cutting Tools along with Greenfield explains what you need to know. The factors considered when trying to determine the best tapping speeds are:
- Material to be tapped
- Length of chamfer on tap
- Percentage of full thread to be cut
- Length of hole (depth of thread)
- Pitch of thread
- Cutting fluids
- Machine equipment
- Horizontal or vertical tapping
The best and most efficient operating speeds for taps cannot be calculated with the same certainty as for many other metalcutting tools.
With other tools, the feed per revolution can be set at any desired point and can be varied as conditions demand. Taps, on the other hand, must always be advanced at a rate equal to one pitch for every revolution. The style of tap may vary the conditions. For example, with a bottoming tap, the first thread on each land cuts the full height of thread, while, with a taper or starting tap, a number of threads do their share of the cutting before the full height of thread is reached.
The depth of thread also varies, depending on the pitch. The coarser the thread, the greater the advance of the tap per revolution and the greater the amount of material removed.
The method of feeding the tap, and the type of equipment for driving, also influence the permissible speeds. If taps
are mechanically fed at the proper rate of advance, they can be operated at higher speeds than if they are required to feed themselves and pull some part of the machine along with them.
Speeds may be modified to take into account any or all of the factors listed to the left.
Speeds must be lowered as length of thread increases because, in deep thread holes, the accumulated chips increase friction and interfere with lubrication.
Bottoming taps must be run slower than plug taps.
Tapping of full height of thread calls for slower speed than if the commercial 75% height only is required.
Coarse-thread taps in the larger diameters should be run more slowly than fine-thread taps of the same diameters.
The quantity and quality of cutting fluid may affect the permissible speeds as much as 100%.
Taper threaded taps, such as pipe taps, should be operated at from 1/2 to 3/4 the speed of a straight thread tap of comparable major diameter.
Contact General Cutting Tools, your authorized Greenfield Tap and Die distributor for more information.
We ship to Illinois, Iowa, Indiana, Wisconsin, Michigan, Minnesota and the reset of the US.
January 23, 2010
Importance of Proper Lubricants in Tapping
Greenfield along with Cutting Tools Chicago aka General Cutting Tools reminds you that applying the proper lubricants in tapping operations can result in longer tap life, increased production, better workpiece size control, smoother and more accurate threads, less resharpening, and more efficient chip removal.
Generally, for best tap performance, straight cutting oil should be used. For non-ferrous and non-metallic materials, a coolant or a cutting fluid (light oil or soluble oil) is recommended.
Often, machining centers are equipped with a coolant or a cutting fluid that contains enough water and oil to provide adequate cooling and lubrication for a variety of tools and workpieces. However, most soluble blends are not suitable for tapping applications. Tapping, especially with thread-forming taps, requires more lubrication than cooling. A coolant or cutting fluid might lack the lubrication necessary to obtain acceptable tool life and part finish. Consult your coolant specialist for recommendations.
After you select the proper lubricant, it is also important to choose the right method of application and pressure. For tapping, use more than one nozzle around the tap. The nozzles should be located as close to the surface of the part as possible, be positioned at an angle close to the axis of the tool, and point directly into the hole to flush the chips from the flutes. For horizontal tapping, where the tap is stationary and the workpieces is rotating, consider using two streams of lubricant, one on each side of the tap.
Whether you are tapping vertically, horizontally, or on an angle, make sure the lubricant reaches the cutting lands of the tap at all times, especially at the point or chamfered portion. Brushing or squirting oil or fluid onto the tap does not provide sufficient lubrication. In fact, heavy viscosity oil may cause the chips to “stick” or “cling” to the tap, increasing the chance of breakage. In addition, when the lubricant is automatically applied only on the forward motion of the tap, you should time the application of the lubricant so that it will reach the hole before the tap starts to cut. This applies particularly to machines on which the cutting fluid is automatically shut off during the tap’s reversal.
For maximum effectiveness, it is often best to force the lubricant into the hole under pressure. The amount of pressure applied varies depending on the tapping method, hole depth, and tapping speed.
Try to keep tapping lubricants as clean as possible using a filtering system or other equipment. Dust and other foreign particles can contaminate the oil and decrease its effectiveness. Be sure to thoroughly clean machines and oil tanks when adding new lubricant and at regular intervals to ensure optimum tapping results.
Contact General Cutting Tools, your authorized Greenfield Tap and Die distributor for more information.
We ship to Illinois, Iowa, Indiana, Wisconsin, Michigan, Minnesota and the reset of the US.
January 22, 2010
The Proper Use and Care of Gages Illinois
Cutting Tools Chicago aka General Cutting Tools in conjunction with Greenfield Tap and Die explains the proper use and care for your gages. Limit-type thread plug and ring gages are important tools in any Quality Control program. These gages are used to determine whether a product’s threads fall within maximum and minimum functional size limits.
Product size limits are expressed in terms of pitch diameter, which is theoretical. Limit-type gages check the “functional” size of the threads, or the capability of product threads to assemble with mating parts, and the degree of tightness or looseness of the fit. Functional size takes into account not only the pitch diameter, but also the effects of deviations in other factors such as lead, angle, roundness, and helical path.
Decisions regarding whether to accept or reject a product are made based on its functional size. Obtaining an accurate functional size evaluation depends upon three key factors: 1) the accuracy of the gages used, 2) proper care of the gages, and 3) correct use of the gages.
Gage Accuracy
The initial accuracy of the gage is the responsibility of the gage manufacturer, who should manufacture the gage within specified allowable tolerances. Maintaining gage accuracy then becomes the responsibility of the user and involves properly caring for and correctly using the gages.
Properly Caring for Gages
Gages should be handled with care to avoid damage and premature wear. Mishandling gages can result in unnecessary costs, both for replacement gages and, more importantly, for improperly rejected products. Gages should also be calibrated regularly to ensure they are within acceptable tolerances.
Use the following tips to properly maintain your gages:
- Keep gages clean and lightly oiled, if possible, both during use and when in storage. Light oil will prevent rusting, greatly increase wear life, and help to prevent “loading” or “smearing” of product material onto the gage threads. (In some applications, using oil on a workpiece might not be acceptable, so be sure to check the material specifications before using an oiled gage.) Using Seal Peal plastic dip on gage threads in storage is also acceptable.
- Protect gages from nicks, jams, and other damage by providing a protective box in the work area.
Using Gages Correctly
Correctly using gages will not only extend their life but also yield accurate results when evaluating threads. Refer to the following usage tips:
- Clean parts before gaging. Remove any dirt or chips so the gage can check product size unaffected by foreign material.
- Align and start threads carefully. Cross-threading can damage the end threads of both the product and the gage.
- Gages are not sizing tools! They must travel over the full length of the product threads or, in the case of blind holes or imperfect run-out threads, they should travel as much of the length required to enable assembly.
- GO gages must enter or be entered by product threads without undue force or pressure.
- NO GO gages have limitations on entry. It is usually preferable that they do not enter; however, some entry is generally allowable and the limitations vary for different gage standards. For inch threads, NO GO entry is limited to not more than 3 turns; for metric threads, NO GO entry is limited to not more than 2 turns.
- Don’t force the gage. Use reasonable light pressure only.
- Use thread ring gages equally from both faces. We often find that ring gages submitted for re-inspection or reconditioning are tapered from wear only on the stamped side. The ring gage is designed to be used from either face, and alternating use from each end will prolong wear life.
By properly using and caring for your gages, you can achieve a number of sound, economical benefits:
Prolonged wear life
Extended periods between calibrations
More reliable results in evaluating product threads
Acceptance of the maximum size range of the product tolerance. Thus, preventing defective threads from reaching the market