At Blechexpo 2019 in Stuttgart earlier this month, MEBA shone the spotlight on its recently upgraded MEBAeco 335 DGA-600, which the company describes as the flagship of double-mitre technology.

MEBAeco metal bandsaw machines are based on a modular system that has been continuously developed. The system is the platform on which customers can assemble their individual machines, aligned to specific sawing targets. From a simple, semi-automatic straight-cutting machine, to a patented fully automatic double mitre saw, everything is said to be possible.
The MEBAeco 335 DGA-600 has features such as electric saw feed with ballscrew, or the patented double mitre system which ensures the right angled tension of the material.
Thanks to the frequency-controlled AC drive, the saw blade speed is infinitely variable from 15 to 150 m/min. The continuous use of recirculating ball bearing guides makes the MEBAeco automatic saws smooth, highly loadable, low maintenance and backlash-free. In addition, MEBA double-mitre bandsaws allow the processing of different angle and length combinations.
MEBAeco also makes no compromises when it comes to automation. For a completely automated sawing process, MEBAeco machines can be linked with material storage, as well as infeed and outfeed logistics. Automated production lines for steel structures can be implemented in conjunction with beam drilling rigs, sandblasting rigs, engraving equipment or welding robots.
Cross-linked sawing MEBAconnect solutions are used to good effect in the MEBAeco 335 DGA-600. This machine is equipped with a networkable, ergonomic panel control with various option packages. The packages enable the setting of sawing programs in work preparation, the import of sawing programs from CAD with DSTV interface and data export, or facilitate the extended MEBA Teleservice for remote maintenance.
For further information www.meba-saw.com

According to Bison Machinery, it would be easy to assume that capacity is the deciding factor when selecting a bandsaw, however, with applications varying from the mitre cutting of small box sections and angles, to cutting solid bar stock in exotic materials, it is essential that other machine features are also assessed when looking to cut structural sections.

For instance, unlike older models, most bandsaws now mitre by moving the head, otherwise known as the bow or saw frame, rather than turning the clamps and rotating the material. Smaller saws are often single mitre, as it is quicker to turn the material over, than to reset the saw frame to make a mitre cut in the other direction. However, when working with larger beams, it is essential that the saw frame can be angled in both directions to perform opposite mitres.
In terms of vice design, hydraulic clamping is desirable when cutting larger and heavier beams as it requires a lot of force to pull a beam back in line with the machine. Additionally, machines designed specifically for structural applications will often have a longer bow to permit a full width cut at a suitable height for standard beam sizes, while still allowing the cutting of larger box sections.
Except for the very largest examples, the majority of structural sections are cut on pivot bandsaws. When cutting with a pivot saw, the centre of gravity of the bow shifts as it descends, causing it to speed up or slow down at different stages of the cut. To counter this effect, one or more springs are fitted at the back of the bow, although models such as the Sterling SRA440 DGSA feature a hydraulic counterbalance system which is synchronised with the main down-feed cylinder; this gives a more consistent down-feed rate, resulting in better blade life.
Further factors cited as important by Bison Machinery include digital mitre angle scales, and feed pressure adjustment capability.
For further information www.bisonmachinery.co.uk

Marking its 60th anniversary, the Sharp Tool Company in Hudson, Massachusetts, is a company that throughout its history has achieved a number of milestones, and in this landmark year the company has purchased five circular saw-blade grinding machines from Vollmer in an investment worth $1m.

The modern face of the business sees Sharp Tool manufacture upward of 700 saw blades every week, with over 4000 continuously on order and an additional 1000 HSS and carbide-tipped saw blades being serviced every seven days. Sharp Tool also supplies bandsaw blades and flat knives.
Even before orders land in the workshop, the company says it has witnessed a multitude of benefits.
Paul Morette, son of the company’s founder, states: “The surface finish and precision on our saw blades is much better than before. This will improve the service life of products for customers. In addition, by completing face and top grinding in a single set-up, we are improving consistency and overall quality. This has eliminated secondary set-ups and is saving us the equivalent of two employees a year; maybe $100,000 per annum in labour savings, as the guys don’t have to constantly run two machines. It also saves the guys from trying to load heavy 52” blades twice, from one machine to the next.”
From a productivity perspective, the new Vollmer machines are at least 40% faster than the previous Vollmer CHC20 machines they replaced. Factoring in the elimination of multiple set-ups and Sharp Tool Co is realising throughput improvements of 50% or more. The benefit to both the saw manufacturer and its customers is that lead-times will be reduced considerably moving forward.
For further information www.vollmer-group.com

HE&M Saw has created a number of custom saws over the years, but none more unique than the bespoke saw it designed for a decommissioned plutonium manufacturing facility located in Colorado. With the capability to cut through large blocks of compressed scrap, the custom saw can also be dissembled and reassembled to allow for transportation into the required facility.

In the early 1990s, a plutonium manufacturing facility in Colorado was decommissioned. The facility had produced plutonium for nuclear ordinance since the 1950s. As part of the deconstruction efforts, over 800 structures were demolished, and 21 tons of weapons-grade materials were removed. The demolition resulted in 1.3 million cubic metres of waste that was compressed into 0.9 m cubes and buried underground. Today, the plant is completely gone. However, it was recently discovered that some of the buried material was contaminated and leaking into the environment, so it had to be dug up and disposed of properly.
For correct disposal, a saw would need to cut the 0.9 m metal cubes into pieces small enough to fit inside 208-litre drums. The cubes were deemed hazardous and radioactive, and could only be processed in a radiation containment facility. The facility was isolated within 0.9 m thick walls and only accessible through a service door. Unfortunately, a saw with this capability usually stands at 3.6 m high, far larger than the human-sized service door. As a solution, HE&M’s engineering team designed a saw that could be dissembled by the customer, carried through the service door, and then reassembled to cut the compressed cubes.
This project provided the HE&M team with the opportunity to think outside the box and design a saw that could cut the product, while also fitting within specific facility constraints.
For further information www.hemsaw.com

Selmach has set about identifying the most important points to consider when purchasing a circular saw for metalworking applications. Firstly, what metal is being cut? A high-speed saw (usually 3000 rpm) will be required for cutting aluminium. Slower speed saws (90 rpm) are generally used for cutting mild steel, and slower again (45 rpm) for stainless. Nowadays, most circular saws will have two or three speed settings on the control panel, which make them suitable for multiple cutting applications, i.e. both stainless and mild steel.

Notably, the wrong blade can lead to a bad cut, cause damage to the workpiece and/or saw (due to vibration), and will be noisy. Finding the right tooth pitch is therefore imperative.
The main types of blades commonly available include SHSS (high-speed steel) for cutting mild steel and TiCN (titanium carbo-nitride) for stainless steel. The latter, which will also cut mild steel, are twice the cost of SHSS blades but will last much longer. Cutting aluminium on high-speed saw will require a TCT blade.
With the right blade and everything set correctly, a circular saw should provide a straight cut with minimal requirement for secondary processing and deburring. Circular saws are most often used in the balustrade industry, and in window manufacturing, where perfectly square cuts are required on every piece with minimal secondary operations.
The Sterling saws from Selmach are popular due to their sturdy construction, double clamping self-centring vice, and their slitting ability. If the budget is tight, then the Thomas range is a good low cost, yet still professional option.
For further information https://selmach.com/