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The Complete Bandsaw Inspection Guide

5 Jun 2025

Complete Bandsaw Inspection

by BAHCO

1

Chip Brush

Items checked / procedure
  • Check the condition of the chip brush, replace when needed.


Potential Issues
  • Tooth breakage, rough cutting and premature wear of tooth.

Items checked / procedure
  • Measure tension with a tension meter and record the measurement. The correct tension for both carbide and bi-metal blades should be between 250 - 330 N/mm2, depending on the size of the blade and machine type.


Potential Issues
  • Blade breakage, crooked cutting, vibration and slippage between the band and the wheel.

2

Blade Tension

3

Blade Speed

Items checked / procedure
  • Verify the operation of band speed controls and speed indicators.


Potential Issues
  • Tooth damage, crooked cutting, premature tooth wear.

Items checked / procedure
  • Down feed is measured in mm/min. If the machine does not have a reading, you can measure it yourself. See how far the head drops in 1 minute, it is useful to put a magnet on the column and measure there.

4

Machine Feed

5

Coolant Flow

Items checked / procedure
  • Verify coolant flow from all hoses and ports. Check coolant concentration with a refractometer. We recommend a 7% for Bi-metal and 10% for Carbide concentration minimum.


Potential Issues
  • Premature tooth wear, tooth breakage and crooked cutting.

Items checked / procedure
  • Disassemble guides, check for cracks and/or chips. Carbide guide surface should be higher than surface of the steel holder. Look for excessive wear on the corners of the carbides.

  • Bearing type guides should be checked for looseness between the centre shaft or post and outer bearing surface. Make sure the bearings turn freely.


Potential Issues
  • Band breakage, crooked cuts, blade vibration. Tight roller guides will pull the blade off the idler wheel. Blade should slip freely between guide rollers.

6

Guides

7

Blade Tracking

Items checked / procedure
  • Inspect the band position on the band wheels, the blade must not touch the wheel flange. The blade should be positioned in a way that the largest portion of the blade body is supported by the wheel surface.


Potential Issues
  • Band breakage and/or cracking. Crooked cutting, caused by set damage or blade twist. Wheel damage of flange wear.

Items checked / procedure
  • Inspect for flat spots on the wheel surfaces. Rock wheels side to side for bearing play.


Potential Issues
  • Band breakage, blade slip.

8

Wheel Bearings

9

Stock Feed

Items checked / procedure
  • Verify correct sequence of stock feed system making sure blade is clear of stock during auto feed cycle.


Potential Issues
  • Blade breakage and or tooth damage.

Items checked / procedure
  • Verify condition and operation of saw clamp and feed clamps, list problems found.


Potential Issues
  • Blade breakage, crooked cutting, blade breakage.

10

Clamping

11

Drive Mechanics

Items checked / procedure
  • Check condition of all drive belts. List any fluid leaks in drive gear box. Report all unusual gear or bearing sounds. Check for smooth running on all parts.


Potential Issues
  • Tooth damage, crooked cutting.

Items checked / procedure
  • Check hydraulic fluid level. Check oil level in all air oilers. Check gearbox oil level.


Potential Issues
  • Erratic operation of saw arm. Wrong blade tension. Erratic blade speed control.

12

Hydraulic Fluid

13

Lubrication

Items checked / procedure
  • Check lubrication. These need to be filled with lube oil.


Potential Issues
  • Erratic operation of saw arm, bridge, guides or other parts of the sawing machine that need to be lubricated.


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