Selmach Machinery has released a guide to the benefits associated with the Sterling SRA DGSA bandsaw, which is suitable for cutting structural beam and box section.

The semi-automatic machines that make up this series bring with them a range of features. Build quality and strength are the obvious benefits of these high-capacity machines with their heavy-duty bow structure and design. Importantly though, Selmach says that the Sterling SRA DGSA eliminates issues found in other, similar capacity machines with similar length bows, wherein speeds can increase during the cutting process, affecting both the life of the blade and the quality of cut. This is thanks to the twin ram (push and pull) system; the balancing ram on the rear of the machine ensures accurate cutting consistency throughout the cutting cycle.
Another quality that elevates the Sterling range is the mobile detached control panel, which is not fixed on one side as found on other bandsaws. The ergonomic control panel is wheel mounted for easy access at all times and to protect the controls from damage when loading or removing large, heavy materials such as beams. For mitred cuts, users can also bring the panel in close, allowing the operator to see marker lines and cuts much more easily, along with the ability to control all of the bandsaw’s functions.
The heavy-duty, full-stroke hydraulic vice follows the same ethos as the rest of the Sterling bandsaw, making squaring beams easy with the ability to slide from left to right. Also featured is a sacrificial plate which can be conveniently replaced, solving the problem of unavoidable wear and tear on the machine’s bed after years of throughput.
For further information https://selmach.com/

HE&M Saw recently had a customer which enquired about a bandsaw that could cut graphite, prompting the company to design and build a large vertical bandsaw that minimises the risks involved with cutting this material.

The challenges are not with cutting graphite per se, but rather with the material’s qualities. Under a great deal of pressure and heat, graphite converts to diamond, a tough material. In its pure form, graphite is relatively soft, and highly conductive of heat and electricity, which is why it is commonly used in products such as electrodes, batteries, solar panels and other industrial products.
Saw designers wanting to cut graphite are presented with unique challenges because the dust resulting from the soft material is quite fine. When airborne, it can settle around electrical components and connections, prompting the potential for electrical shorts due to the material’s high conductivity. The result is likely to be component failure, or perhaps even a fire. Graphite is non-flammable in bulk form, but combustible, and even explosive, with the proper mixtures of graphite dust and air.
Seeking to overcome these issues, the HE&M engineering team set about designing the V360M-CTS2 vertical bandsaw. This customised solution has safety features that minimise the risks of electrical shorts by incorporating a dust-proof and ATEX-rated motor. Additionally, all electrical parts have been specified with sealed housings to minimise the amount of exposure to graphite particles. The UK representative for HE&M Saw is Kaltenbach.
For further information https://kaltenbach.co.uk/