Case Study - Performance of Cermet Cutting Blades vs Carbide Blades in a Slat Cutting Mill

This is a company manufacturing products where a very large number of slats are required for each item. They were concerned with time spent cutting but they were much more concerned with good cuts every time. The cost of sorting sloppy cuts was huge. The cost of sorting poor cuts was much more important than tooling cost or material cost.

Cermet Tipped Blades vs. Carbide Tipped Blades

Speed and Quality

Cermet tipped saws cut 30 slats at a time compared to only 14 for carbide tipped saws. The cuts were also cleaner. The top bundle of 14 slats has a line where the scoring saw cut. The bottom bundle of 30 slats also has a line from the scoring saw but the line is much fainter, which shows the better quality of cut.

Blade Life

After ten weeks the saw was still cutting as fast and as well as ever but one morning it sounded a little louder so they checked it. The scoring saw had hit something. Five teeth were broken but the saw still cut and the cuts were still clean. Both saws were replaced. The main saw had some wear as seen in the picture but, again, the cuts were still very clean.

Summary

The customer was thrilled enough with the test set of ceramic tipped saws to order three more sets for $1,725.00. When he uses ceramic tipped saws he cuts twice as much material in half the time for a 4 to 1 advantage. He gets beautifully clean cuts with no reject material. The saw is quieter; labour is lower and saw changes are dramatically reduced. Ceramic tipped saws cost about twice as much and the customer gets 5 times the value.

Source: Carbide Processors

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