Alucobest Saw Cutting Recommendations

Portable Cutting Saw

Existing machinery and tooling used for woodworking and metal can be used for the saw cutting of aluminium composite material. Below an indicative list of saw cutting equipment with nominal values for tool geometry and workingconditions is supplied for easy reference. Prior to processing large quantities trial saw cuttings should be done to evaluate both the tool working conditions and the recommended cutting speeds.

For markings the use of a soft pencil is just fine. Hard marking tools should be avoided as they can fracture the aluminium surface. The chips formed during saw cutting should be taken away with compressed air. Due to the nature of aluminium composite material it is best to move the saw blade than the material as no scratch will remain on the panel. Aluminium composite material can be cut to ant shape with a jig saw and if circular shaped by using an auxiliary circular cutting tool.

If good saw cutting practices are applied and recommendations followed the result should be clean cuts with little burr. If despite following the recommendations ragged cuts are produced, check the following causes: poor tool support, tool vibration, blunt cutting edges, high frictional heat at the cutting edge.

As aluminium composite material has low thermal conductivity it cannot be cooled easily with compressed air or any other means. Thus it is recommended to select the tool geometry and cutting conditions in such a manner as to minimise the frictional forces developed at the cutting point and keep the resulting heat at a low level.

Blade material High speed steel (HSS)or carbide tipped (CT)

Hardened spring steel HSS

Circular Saw Band Saw Fret or Jig Saw

Blade or band geometry Blade thickness: 2mm - 4mmBlade shall be thinner between

hub and outside diameterto prevent jamming

Thickness: 0.8 to 1.2mmWidth: 15 to 25mm

Thickness: 1.0 to 1.2mmWidth: 5 to 15mm

Tooth geometrty Space width and round groove Hook teeth Alternating orwavy tooth setting

Tooth pitch HSS: 10 to 20mm CT blade: 10 to 12mm 4 to 12mm 1.2 to 3mm

First working orthoganalclearance angle “a”

HSS: 10, CT blade: 15 35 -

Contact angle “Y” HSS: 25 positive (cww) CT blade: 10 positive 3 to 5 -

Max speed cutting “v” HSS: 3000 m/min CT blade: 5000 m/min 3000 m/min 200 m/min

Max feed speed “s” HSS: 25 m/min CT blade: 30 m/min 25 m/min 10 m/min

No of teeth

Teeth quality

Cutting speed

Maximum available

Carbides designed for cutting non-ferrous material

Maximum 5500 rpm