Fabricating stone is complex, challenging work and you need to be mindful of the many problems that can occur when working in such an environment.
A good understanding of the problems that can occur when working with stone on a bridge saw is essential for a high-quality finished product.
Here at Stonegate, the UK’s most trusted provider of specialist products and knowledge to stone fabricators, we are better placed to advise on using our tooling and consumables to ensure efficient, safe working.
Enjoy reading through our recent question and answer session with our technical sales team and our valued customers.
I’m getting excessive wear on the segments when I’m cutting on the bridge saw. Why?
The most likely causes of excessive wear are that the blade isn’t right for the material you’re cutting, you’re cutting at too low a speed, or the blade isn’t being cooled well enough which is wearing down the bond. We would suggest that you try using a harder bond blade and increase the speed to ensure you give the blade the best possible chance.
The blade’s body is wearing unevenly and it’s affecting the cut. Why is this happening?
Typically, this is the sort of thing we would see when the blade isn’t being cooled properly or used at the wrong RPM. Ensuring you get your feeds and speeds right is key to ensuring both the life of the blade and the quality of the finish. Another cause is that the blade you’re using isn’t right for cutting the material you’re working on.
The body of the blade is cracking when I’m using it. Why?
The likely cause could be down to a number of factors which are causing the blade to crack and break into the body. If the blade is twisting excessively or there isn’t enough coolant, these can cause the problem you’re seeing.
Also, if you’re cutting at too high an RPM this can also cause damage to the body. If you’re experiencing the blade body cracking or breaking then we would recommend reducing the RPM, increasing the flow of water to the cut and always making sure that blade is perpendicular to the direction of the cut to ensure the ideal finish.
The blade’s overheating! What Can I do?
Overheating blades are a common problem which affects both the quality of the cut and the life of the blade. It’s vital that if you’re finding the blade is overheating you need to ensure the blade is perpendicular to the direction of the cut and increase the water flow to maximise its cooling effects. In doing this you can guarantee you’re doing all you can to ensure the risk of the blade overheating is reduced.
The blade isn’t cutting. Why?
The blade not cutting at all is most likely due to the blade not being suitable for the material. If the material is too hard for the blade then it won’t efficiently cut; another cause for the blade not cutting could be that the RPM is too high. We would recommend researching whether the blade you’re using is suitable for the material and replacing if necessary.
The segments of the blade are cracking. Why?
Cracking segments are another issue that can be caused by using a blade which isn’t suitable for the material being cut as well as if the RPM is too high and overheating. We would advise looking into the blade and understanding if it’s suitable for the material, reduce the RPM and ensure you have plenty of water within the cut.
One of the segments of the blade has broken off! Why has this happened?
A segment breaking off the blade is never ideal and can be down to a number of factors, including; the blade being damaged in storage or transportation, twisting excessively during cutting, movement of the material during cutting or that the blade being used isn’t suitable for the material.
We would suggest that you check that the material you’re cutting is possible with the blade being used. Another consideration is making absolutely sure that the blade is perpendicular to the cut.
