Sparking saw guide

[Barry1961]

A customer has a band saw blade cutting balsa wood that runs 1200 fpm. In the past they tried using rolling type blade guides which they did not like.

Now they are using a ceramic guide which guides the blade very well but generates sparks from the back portion of the guide. They do not want sparking in the dusty enviroment. The back guide is a 3/4" ceramic disc.

There is not much room to add a rolling guide just for the back guide portion.

Any ideas?

Barry1961

 

[tomwalz]

micarta?

Thomas J. Walz
Carbide Processors, Inc.

http://www.carbideprocessor.com

 

[ajack1]

I have seen tungsten carbide used, which does not produce sparks but does produce very hot “swarf” when a groove is created due to use, still undesirable in that kind of environment.

If they are only cutting balsa wood do they need a back guide? How much force does the balsa put through the blade? Just a thought.

 

[Barry1961]

They force is around 30 pounds or 15 pounds per guide.

I saw something about a graphite composite being used for guides, but have not found out exactly what type.

Could be graphite impregnated micarta.

Barry1961

 

[unclesyd]

Here are two sources for graphite and graphite composites. We used a lot of Graphalloy in all types of bearings. The GraphiteStore has a lot of different materials along with good information.

http://www.graphalloy.com/index.htm

http://www.graphitestore.com/index.asp

We used small sealed angular contact bearings on our band saws. Part of the PM on the saws was to check this bearing and if it felt rough replace it.