Application of a novel technique for band sawing using a tip-inserted saw regarding surface profiles

One way of achieving a successful forest management leading to biodiversity conservation is to ensure that wood is processed in an efficient manner. The authors succeeded in developing a new technology for bandsawing using a tip-inserted saw. The material used for the tipped edge was High Speed Steel (HSS) of designation SHK 51 according to the Japan Industrial Standard (JIS). The efficiency of the tip-inserted saw was investigated considering its effectiveness in controlling tooth marks and washboarding patterns that sometimes occur during bandsawing. The surface profile of the workpiece generated after sawing with 700 mm and 1100 mm diameter bandmills of the laboratory and industrial type respectively were determined using a CCD laser displacement sensor of scanning length 250 mm and scanning speed of 3 mm/sec at a sampling rate of 50 Hz. Under a setup wheel rotation speed of 200 rpm and feed speed of 1 m/min, washboardings were induced during sawing with the tip-inserted saw of uniform pitch. Thereafter, a tip-inserted saw of random pitch was constructed without removing the saw from the pulley and cutting tests were performed under the same cutting conditions when washboardings were induced during sawing with the uniform pitch tipped-inserted saw. It was observed that the washboarding pattern disappeared completely. Thus the tip-inserted saw of random pitch was very effective in controlling the washboarding pattern. Comparisons of the surface profiles of the workpiece generated by sawing with uniform pitch tip-inserted and stellite-tipped saws under both laboratory and industrial conditions indicate that regardless of the type of bandmill used, the surface profile measured with the laser displacement sensor was smoother for tip-inserted saws than stellite-tipped saws.