Preventing material chipping when using bandsaw?
Preventing material chipping when using bandsaw?
(OP)
I am trying to cut small disks of plastic with a bandsaw but am getting quite serious chipping on the exit side of the plastic. The bandsaw blade makes a perfect smooth cut on entry into the material but I cannot replicate this on the exit edge.
Can anyone suggest any ways to improve matters? Is it the sharpness of the blade? The speed of blade? The speed of feedrate? Number of teeth per inch? Removal of swarf?
Any help much appreciated because it is driving me mad!
Can anyone suggest any ways to improve matters? Is it the sharpness of the blade? The speed of blade? The speed of feedrate? Number of teeth per inch? Removal of swarf?
Any help much appreciated because it is driving me mad!





RE: Preventing material chipping when using bandsaw?
You might also try a backing plate on the exit side.
RE: Preventing material chipping when using bandsaw?
Regards,
Cory
Please see FAQ731-376 for tips on how to make the best use of Eng-Tips Fora.
RE: Preventing material chipping when using bandsaw?
RE: Preventing material chipping when using bandsaw?
RE: Preventing material chipping when using bandsaw?
regards
mog69
RE: Preventing material chipping when using bandsaw?
RE: Preventing material chipping when using bandsaw?
So long as the backing plate is larger than the the piece you're cutting out, the band saw will pull through both the work and the backing pieces at the same time as the cut is made. The backing piece is still supporting the work piece at the point of cut. In effect you are laminating the plastic sheet by laying the backing piece on top of the work piece, so you'll end up with a finished disc cut from the work piece, hopefully with clean entry and exits, and a similar disc simultaneously cut from the backing piece with a clean entry and a torn exit which would be scrap.
regards
mog69
RE: Preventing material chipping when using bandsaw?
What I am doing is cutting small discs in half lenthways to create two thinner discs. Therefore the discs are standing on one point of contact during the cutting process. This means I cannot use a backing plate in the way that you suggest (thank you for the information regarding backing plates though - I'm sure it will come in useful at some stage!)
RE: Preventing material chipping when using bandsaw?
RE: Preventing material chipping when using bandsaw?
RE: Preventing material chipping when using bandsaw?
RE: Preventing material chipping when using bandsaw?
RE: Preventing material chipping when using bandsaw?
RE: Preventing material chipping when using bandsaw?
Rob
"I love deadlines. I love the whooshing noise they make as they go past." Douglas Adams
RE: Preventing material chipping when using bandsaw?
RE: Preventing material chipping when using bandsaw?
RE: Preventing material chipping when using bandsaw?
and cut in the midle of the tape to prevent any material
chip out
RE: Preventing material chipping when using bandsaw?
If you are dead set on using a bandsaw, you could fabricate a backing plate made from a piece of square bar stock that is at least 20 mm thick. Mill a 13mm diameter round channel in the bar such that it can support the entire disk on edge. This will support the workpiece as you cut through it. If you make the backing piece out of wood or plastic, you should be able to cut through everything. If you don't want to keep manufacturing the backing piece, you might be successful with first cutting the backing piece with the bandsaw, then anchor the two pieces on either side of the blade so that they are separated by the saw kerf.