FEATURE ON SAWING

Precision And Cutting Efficiency For Metalworking Sector

The new Shark 662 H Konnect from MEP is a dual-column automatic electromechanical bandsaw designed to deliver high-precision cutting of tubes, profiles and steel beams at mitre angles from -60° to +60°. Suitable for both steel fabrication and general machining applications, the machine combines structural rigidity, cutting accuracy and operational flexibility.

A robust cast iron structure, 9 kW motor and 41 mm saw blade provide the power and stability required to process demanding materials. A gantry-based material clamping system secures the workpiece throughout the cutting cycle, while a potentiometric vice continuously monitors its position and immediately detects any deviation from the programmed cut, helping to maintain both accuracy and safety.

The self-aligning, tilting feeder accommodates deformed bars, while a brushless motor and helical rack transmission ensure precise material positioning. A fixed cutting plane maintains stability when the cutting head is angled, allowing fast, accurate movement and reliable cutting performance, including for short sections and end cuts.

The Shark 662 H Konnect incorporates an industrial Linux-based control platform with native IIoT connectivity, providing real-time machine monitoring, simplified software updates and seamless integration with Industry 4.0 production environments.

Designed to suit a wide range of manufacturing operations, the machine is configurable with portal or pincer feeding systems, optional material handling equipment and either minimum quantity lubrication or flood coolant, depending on the application. New functionality can also be added without modifying the core software, simplifying future upgrades.

Safety is integral to the design, with the machine complying with the latest CE requirements. Customisable perimeter guarding, together with advanced cybersecurity features that protect machine data and network communications, provide secure operation in increasingly connected manufacturing environments.More information www.mepsaws.it/en

Nova 1200 Bandsaw Suits Large-Scale Ring Cutting

A new Nova 1200 bandsaw from Saws UK has been installed in the north of England to support the production of large rings for the oil and gas industry. Now fully operational, the machine is processing high-performance materials including Hastelloy and Inconel, strengthening the region’s capability for heavy-duty cutting applications.

Specifically configured for large-diameter ring production, the Nova 1200 features an electrically powered table that provides a positive, controlled feed throughout the cutting cycle. The design ensures smooth material movement and delivers the accuracy and repeatability required when machining heavy sections, even as ring geometry changes during the cut.

Equipped with a 54 mm blade, the machine is designed for demanding large cross-section applications. Combined with precise feed control, it maintains stable cutting conditions during extended production runs, making it particularly well suited to high-nickel superalloys and other difficult-to-machine materials.

A rigid saw frame minimises vibration and keeps the blade on a true cutting path, helping to prevent blade wander when processing thick, dense sections. The result is improved cut quality, extended blade life and lower operating costs through reduced blade changes.

Operator safety is integral to the machine’s design. The cutting area is fully enclosed within a robust safety cage, while interlocked guards prevent operation unless all access points are secure. An integrated light-beam protection system immediately stops the machine if the protected zone is breached, maintaining a safe working environment without compromising productivity.

The Nova platform has been used in industrial cutting applications since 1994 and has built a strong reputation for processing aluminium alloys, high-tensile steels and nickel alloys. The latest installation expands large-ring cutting capacity in the North of England, providing a reliable, high-performance solution for manufacturers serving the demanding oil and gas sector.

More information www.sawsuk.com

Compact Warehouse Boosts Throughput At Steel Distributor

When planning a replacement warehouse for its Kansas City service centre, US steel distributor Steel and Pipe Supply (SPS) prioritised safety, high throughput, minimal error rates and a compact footprint. The company selected a UNICOMPACT 5.0 automated storage and retrieval system from Kasto, the German OEM that makes its storage systems and sawing machines available in the UK and Ireland through its Leicestershire subsidiary.

SPS co-president John Conley says: “We supply the Midwest with a wide range of materials. Our customers rely on us not only for product quality, but also for the service we provide. This warehouse upgrade has made a real difference to our efficiency and productivity, while also boosting staff morale.”

Founded in 1933, SPS has grown into one of the largest privately held steel service centres in the US, supplying structural steel, plate, sheet and coil, alongside value-added processing services. Previous installations of Kasto automated storage systems at its Tulsa, Oklahoma and Longview, Texas facilities had already demonstrated significant gains in productivity, accuracy and safety.

Like many steel stockholders, SPS needed to maximise storage capacity while reducing manual handling and improving stock control. The high-density honeycomb design of the Kasto UNICOMPACT makes optimum use of available space, automating loading and unloading to reduce labour requirements while accelerating picking and material flow. Thousands of individual storage locations accommodate long products up to 7.3 m in length, while fast cassette changes enable rapid order consolidation.

Material movement is managed in real time by the KASTOlogic warehouse management system, which automatically records inventory data, improving stock accuracy and eliminating manual data entry.

Despite strict building height restrictions at the airport-adjacent site, the new facility now stores around 16,000 tonnes of material. Conley also praised Kasto’s US service team, highlighting its fast response times and technical expertise in helping minimise downtime and maintain operational efficiency.More information www.kasto.com

EPS Services explains bandsaw tooth pitch

When choosing a bandsaw blade, tooth pitch is often treated as a secondary consideration. Blade width or overall blade type usually takes priority, with TPI mentioned almost as an afterthought. In reality, tooth pitch plays a major role in how a blade performs in the cut, influencing cutting speed, surface finish, blade life and even machine load. According to EPS Services, problems often blamed on set up or machine condition can frequently be traced back to blade selection.

Tooth pitch refers to the number of teeth per inch of blade, written as TPI. Lower TPI blades feature larger teeth with deeper gaps between them, while higher TPI blades have smaller, closely spaced teeth. These gaps, known as gullets, are responsible for carrying chips away from the cut. If chips cannot clear efficiently, they pack into the gullets, increasing friction and heat and accelerating blade wear. Poor chip clearance is one of the most common causes of premature dulling.

A useful rule of thumb is to ensure at least three teeth are always engaged in the material. This spreads the cutting load and promotes smooth operation. Too few teeth can cause grabbing and chatter, while too many can lead to rubbing rather than cutting, generating heat and reducing efficiency.

Fast dulling, slow cutting, burning and wandering cuts are often linked to incorrect pitch selection, even when machine set up is sound. These symptoms are sometimes misattributed to blade quality.

Variable pitch blades, which alter tooth spacing along the blade, can reduce vibration and improve stability. However, they are not a substitute for selecting the correct pitch range.

Ultimately, tooth pitch affects far more than surface finish. A small change in TPI can significantly improve cutting performance, consistency and blade life.

More information www.eps-services.co.uk

Cosen fills the gap with new SH-520DM bandsaw

Any new fabrication equipment worth mentioning is often the result of a company listening to the needs of its customer. As just one example, fabricators working in structural steel, heavy manufacturing and job shop environments sometimes find themselves forced to compromise by investing in a small saw that cannot keep pace with production needs because the large-format saw would be overkill in more ways than one. The engineers at Cosen Saws, however, listened to customers and developed a solution with a product that it says “fills the gap” – the SH-520DM bandsaw.

Peng Huang, president of Cosen Saws North America, says at the heart of the SH-520DM double-mitre bandsaw is its ability to make a mitre cut up to 60° in either direction. For a variety of shops, that range is critical as it allows aggressive angles and precise cuts on I-beam, channel, tubing and other structural material without the need for multiple set ups or added equipment.

Huang says manufacturers in the utility and fabrication space need a saw that can handle straight cuts and severe angles, and the SH-520DM gives them that flexibility while keeping the material flow straightforward and well-supported.

“There was a need for the shops that started out with a smaller machine and wanted to grow their production into the next machine, but the next machine was too big to fit their floor space,” he explains. “The introduction of this model not only saved them on floor space, it also produces at the capacity that they can comfortably grow into.”

Cosen made a deliberate decision to go semi-automatic with the SH-520DM. Huang notes that not everyone needs a fully computerised machine. There is a strong market for saws that are intuitive, practical and versatile without heavy programming. The SH-520DM is designed to meet that need.

More information www.cosensaws.com