You can start with the best equipment and the finest blade. But, if you don’t use a high quality saw arbor, the right fluid and the proper feeds and speeds you won't end up with a quality cut. Quality cuts come from quality saw arbors.
How Slitting Saw Cuts Differ
The internet is packed with forums for machinists. One of the most common denizens of these forums are those with slitting saw cuts. They complain about broken blades, broken arbors, and tons of destroyed work pieces. If it can go wrong in cutting, it will probably go wrong with a slitting saw cut. But some times you just need that slender cut from a slitting saw.
Pros. Slitting saws excel when you need a very slender cut. No, they aren’t designed for thick cuts or particularly deep cuts. But that doesn't mean you can't cut fairly deep. It's harder to get a thin slot with an end mill than a slitting saw.
Cons. Don't hurry. Slow speeds are the norm for most slitting saws. This is especially true when the blade is large. Feed speeds are also slow. But that doesn't mean you can let the blade dwell. Slitting saws demand copious amounts of cutting oil or lubricant. Sometimes it is hard to get fluid to the cutting site if the slit is particularly thin or deep.
Be Generous with Fluid
No matter the material or blade, use generous amounts of lubricant. Slitting saw blades are very thin. They are also incredibly fragile. That's why they break so easy and confound those forum denizens. The saw blade has been heat treated to keep it hard and sharp. As the blade cuts, it generates friction. Friction creates heat; and heat destroys the blade treatment and dulls the blade quickly. Chips and/or work material fuse to the blade. Now you've ruined the work and murdered the blade. Plenty of cutting oil or lubricant provides a constant cooling. It keeps the blade clear of chips. It is good to be generous with your fluid.
Use a Quality Saw Arbor
If you have an awesome machine, a spectacular blade, and a truckload of coolant, don’t ruin things with a crap saw arbor. Many cheap, imported arbors flood the market. With tools, you always get what you pay for. Don’t pay much, don't get much. Those imported arbors are warped. That's a real problem for true horizontal cuts. One internet forum denizen complains his
saw was wandering like a drunk sheepherder. The group told him to get with it and get a good arbor. That would be like a saw arbor from The Tool Company!
Slitting Saw Arbors, Precision Arbors, and More
Whether you need an
arbor for precision cutting or a quality slitting saw arbor, trust The Tool Company for arbors that are true and designed for CNC applications. The Tool Company can set you up with
slitting saw arbors that fit blades from ¼” to 1 ¼”. Complete with deep, low profile caps to reduce slippage. Forget the drunk sheepherder. Think reliable sheep dog. Every saw arbor is USA made. No cheap imports that aren’t true.
Order your slitting saw arbor today and say good-by to broken blades and ruined work. Hello clean slots.
