DIAMOND BLADES - What are they?
Diamond
blades are made up of:
Diamond crystals These are the cutting agents and come in different grit sizes, quality and quantity
Bonding system Bonding systems hold the
diamond crystals and play important roles: - Support the diamonds - Allow the diamond to protrude by controlled wear to allow the blade to have a continual refreshment of the
cutting edge - Prevents the diamond dropping out until ready - Acts as an absorbent heat sink - Allows control of impact and load as the diamonds grind and cut the product -
Correct bonding systems for the product being cut extends the life of the blade
Segments These are a combination of crystals and bonding agent that are manufactured into
segments that are wider than the steel core to provide clearance while cutting. These segments vary in diamond concentration and strength of bond. Generally softer bonds are used for
harder product being cut and harder bonds for softer products.
Steel core The segments are attached to a steel disc that are tensioned at the manufacturing stage and have
gullets(or slots) to provide increased cooling by the introduction of air or water flow. It is important that the steel cores are flexible enough to allow flexing of the blade while
under cutting pressure. An arbor hole is positioned in the centre of the bade and can vary in size to suit specific machines.
HOW DO DIAMOND BLADES WORK?
Diamond
blades grind their way through the substance to be cut.
There are diamond crystals exposed on the edges and sides of the segments encased in their "bond" and these
exposed diamond crystals do the grinding work as the blade rotates on the arbor of the machine.
The bond locks each crystal in place and behind each diamond crystal there is a tail
of bond that helps support the diamond segment and lock it in place. The grinding process causes the substance being cut to be converted into a fine powder, while the bond also wears
away exposing more diamonds to complete the work.
As the substance wears away the bond, the diamond crystals crack and fracture into tiny pieces that also assist in the grinding
process. Harder materials break down the diamond structure faster, requiring more concentrated array of diamonds in the bond. This continuous grinding and wearing process continues
until the blade is "worn out" although sometimes a small, unusable part of the segments or rim may remain.
It is important to understand that the diamond blade and the
material must work together (or interact) for the blade to cut effectively. The diamond type, quality and grit size must be suited for the saw and the material. The bond material must
also be matched to the material to be cut.
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