[modeleng] Re: Cutting aluminium DANGER !!!!

Wilfried, etal,

From time to time in CONALCO's machine shop, I had to sharpen 44" circular
saws that were used to cut 12" thick aluminium billets in a hydraulic feed
machine.  As Wilfried says, there were two tooth tips, one that was straight
and the next one would be cornered off at 45° on each side.  Also, the
cornered teeth were about .020" taller than the straight teeth so every two
teeth delivered three chips.  The grinding machine I ran had special cams
that caused this effect. The teeth were High Speed Steel and in segments
about 6" long which were riveted to the blade.  A flood of coolant ran in
the cut at all times, as the aluminium was very soft and "sticky", but
blades ran several days between sharpening.  The aluminium billets were
later planed off on top and bottom and eventually rolled into thin sheets
and foil.

OT: Historical note.  It is said that most every American remembers what he
or she was doing when they first heard of President Kennedy's assassination.
Well for the record, I was sharpening a saw blade that day and remember it
well.

Jesse in Tennessee USA.

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