Theory Of Diamond Blades - MK Diamond Products MK-370 Owner's Manual

MK-370 SAW

THEORY OF DIAMOND BLADES

Diamond blades do not really cut; they grind the material through friction. Diamond crystals, often
visible at the leading edge and sides of the rim/segment, remove material by scratching out particles
of hard, dense materials, or by knocking out larger particles of loosely bonded abrasive material. This
process eventually cracks or fractures the diamond particle, breaking it down into smaller pieces. As
a result, a diamond blade for cutting soft, abrasive material must have a hard metal matrix composi-
tion to resist this erosion long enough for the exposed diamonds to be properly utilized. Conversely, a
blade for cutting a hard, non-abrasive material must have a soft bond to ensure that it will erode and
expose the diamonds embedded in the matrix. These simple principles are the foundation of "con-
trolled bond erosion."
TYPES OF CUTTING
There are two basic types of cutting-Dry or Wet. The choice of which type of blade to use depends
on:
• The requirements of the job
• The machine/tool utilizing the diamond blade
• The preference of the operator
In the case of DRY cutting, the overwhelming popularity and quantity of hand-held saws and the flex-
ible nature of MK Diamond blades to professionally handle most ceramic, masonry, stone and con-
crete materials, make the DRY cutting blade a very attractive tool. When using a DRY blade, the user
must be aware of distinct operating practices to ensure optimum performance. DRY cutting blades
require sufficient airflow about the blade to prevent overheating of the steel core. This is the best
accomplished by shallow, intermittent cuts of the material with periods of "free-spinning" (for several
seconds) between each cut, to maximize the cooling process.
For WET cutting applications, MK has the exact blade to compliment both the material to be cut and
the wet cutting machine to be used. During cutting operations, liberal amounts of water act as a cool-
ant to support the cutting effectiveness and longevity of the WET blade. Additionally, using water adds
to the overall safety of cutting operations by keeping the dust signature down.
Know All You Can About the Material You Wish to Cut
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THEORY