Coolant Tank - Craftsman 351.226121 Operator's Manual

If a motor, o therthantheonesupplied is used, t hecut-
tingconditions w illbechanged. Threespeeds areavail-
able.
Speed is changed bymoving lever(KeyNo.1) tooneof
thethreespeed positions. Speeds andcorresponding
material a relistedbelow.
FPM
125 ........................ Tool steel, Cast iron.
215 .......................... Mild steel, Bronze.
270 ...................... Aluminum, Soft bronze.
CHANGING SPEEDS
Refer to Figure 11, page 18.
• Move the lever (Key No. 1) to the desired position
while motor is running.
• Do not adjust speed while blade is in contact with
workpiece.
FEED PRESSURE
Correct feed pressure holds the blade in the cut. Feed
pressure is supplied by the weight of the head.
Maximum material removal rate corresponds with the
proper pressure.
Optimum feed pressure ensures that maximum power
is used for cutting. If the feed pressure is too low, the
blade will not dig into the material properly. Too much
feed pressure will cause the blade to dig too deeply,
bogging down the motor, and possibly burning it out. In
addition, blade "shocking" could result.
Extra energy will be used to produce powdered chips
rather than smooth shavings; this will produce more
heat and dull the blade.
CAUTION: Do not attempt to increase feed pressure
by leaning on head.
REGULATING FEED PRESSURE
Refer to Figures 6 and 8, page 8 and 12.
Feed pressure is controlled by the feed regulator. The reg-
ulator creates a force which counteracts the feed pres-
sure. The force from the feed regulator can be adjusted to
create any feed pressure up the set maximum.
Having the correct feed pressure will produce the opti-
mum feed rate and the fastest cut. Incorrect pressure,
whether too great or too small, will put less power into
the cut and reduce the feed rate.
NOTE: Wasted power damages the saw.
Determining the proper feed is largely a judgement
based on experience. The feed is usually determined
during the cutting operation. Before the cutting begins,
the blade should be off the work and the head should
be held in position by closing the valve on the feed reg-
ulator (Figure 8, Key No. 40).
Once the blade is running, the head is slowly lowered
onto the work by adjusting the feed regulator.
• After the blade begins the cut, optimum feed rate
should be determined.
To determine if the feed is incorrect, examine the chips
produced. When the blade is operating at the ideal feed
for the speed, the chips will be curled and continuous. If
the chips are thick and not continuous, the feed pressure
should be reduced. If the chips are powdery, the feed
pressure needs to be increased (Refer to Figure 6).
Curled shavings indicate correct feed
pressure.
Thick discontinuous chips indicate too
much pressure. Turn knob clockwise.
iiiii i i .wderychip i epre
• Turn knob counterclockwise.
."
Figure 6 - Determine Feed Pressure
CUTTING FLUIDS
Using a cutting fluid can improve the cutting conditions
and keep them more consistent throughout the cut by:
• Lubricating the blade, which reduces the friction
between it and the workpiece.
• Taking heat away from the cut and preventing the
workpiece and blade from overheating.
• Dissipating the built-up heat because hot metals
become tough and more difficult to cut and blades
become dull at an accelerated rate.
NOTE: Because much of the built-up heat comes from
friction between the blade and the workpiece, cutting
fluids are often referred to as "coolants".
The importance of cutting fluids increases with blade
speed and toughness of the material. There are many
available types of cutting fluids. Consult a machinist's
handbook for specific information. The most common
general purpose coolant is a mixture of water and water
soluble oil. The producer of the water soluble oil should
provide the appropriate mixing ratios.
COOLANT TANK
Refer to Figure 8, page 12.
The coolant tank (Key No. 1) can hold up to 3.4 gallons
of coolant. For proper operation, the pump must be
completely submerged in fluid.
• Check that the fluid level is sufficient before attempting
wet-cut operations. Usually two gallons are sufficient.
• Check that the tank is not filled with debris.
CAUTION: Do not allow shavings to flow through the
pump. Change the fluid and clean the tank often.
Whenever possible, the chips and should be cleaned
out of the chip tray (Key No. 30) before they are washed
into tank.
8