Blade Tracking - Grizzly G0555LA35 Manual

Blade Tracking

"Tracking" refers to how the blade rides on the
bandsaw wheels. Proper tracking is important
for maintaining bandsaw adjustments, achiev-
ing correct blade tension, and cutting accurate-
ly. Improper tracking reduces cutting accuracy,
causes excess vibrations, and places stress on
the blade and other bandsaw components. The
shape of the wheels and the orientation of the
wheels in relation to each other determine how
the blade tracks.
Bandsaw wheels are either flat or crowned and
both shapes track differently. The G0555LX has
crowned wheels. As the wheels spin the blade
naturally tracks to the highest point of the crown at
the center of the wheel (see Figure 21).
PROPER TRACKING
Blade
Wheel
Centered
on Wheel
Figure 21. Blade centered on the crown of the
wheel.
The wheels of the bandsaw must be aligned for
the blade to track correctly on the crown of the
wheel. Properly aligned wheels are parallel and
coplanar (see Figure 22).
Improper blade tension and cutting practices can
negatively affect blade tracking. Familiarizing
yourself with the ideas and conditions described
in Figure 22 will help you recognize when your
saws wheel alignment may need adjusted (refer
to Wheel Alignment on Page 48 for detailed
instructions on adjusting the tracking).
-20-
Blade Centered
on Peak of Crown
Parallel And
Coplanar
Coplanar But
Not Parallel
Figure 22. Wheel alignment and misalignment
examples.
The wheels on the G0555LX were aligned at the
factory, so center tracking is the only adjustment
that needs to be performed when the saw is new.
This adjustment is necessary turning the saw on
or performing other adjustments.
G0555LX (Mfg. Since 3/13)
or
Parallel But Not
Coplanar
Not Coplanar or
Parallel