PCD Saw Blades: Cutting Hard Materials With Ease:
In the modern manufacturing landscape, working with advanced and challenging materials is the norm. To achieve the precision and efficiency required, you need specialized, high-performance PCD tooling. When your job involves cutting abrasive materials, standard carbide saw blades just won't cut it—they wear out too quickly, costing you time and money.
Discover how PCD tooling and saw blades provide longevity, superior finish quality, and predictable performance.
Leitz PCD Saw Blades Offer:
- Long Tool Life.
- High Feed Speeds.
- Multiple Sharpens.
Your Benefits:
- Less Frequent Replacements.
- Increased Productivity.
- Lower Tooling Costs.
What are PCD saw blades and Polycrystalline Diamond?
While the term "diamond saw blade" is broad, PCD saw blades are the industrial standard for high-volume, precision cutting in many sectors. Unlike blades that use small, loose diamonds electroplated onto a surface (often used for natural stone), PCD saw blades feature solid, engineered diamond segments.
PCD saw blades are cutting tools tipped with Polycrystalline Diamond (PCD). PCD is a composite material formed by sintering together fine diamond particles with a metal binder, usually cobalt, under extremely high pressure and temperature. The resulting material possesses the exceptional hardness and wear resistance of natural diamond but can be formed into various shapes for PCD tooling and is securely bonded to a carbide substrate. When applied to a saw body, these PCD tips create a blade capable of cleanly cutting materials that would rapidly dull conventional tooling. This makes them a vital part of high-production workshops using PCD tooling.
Polycrystalline Diamond is a synthetic material that achieves a hardness second only to single-crystal natural diamond, making it the hardest material used in machining today.
What Are The Best Applications For PCD Saw Blades:
The primary advantage of PCD saw blades is their resistance to abrasion, which makes them ideal for cutting highly abrasive and challenging materials. https://shop.leitz.org/en_gb/saw-blades are ideal for high volume applications where downtime from tool changes can he very costly. The best applications for this superior PCD tooling include:
- Scoring Saw Blades: using PCD saw blades for scorers is a great way to reduce downtime when cutting panel materials. They can handle significantly more material before requiring replacement.
- Snip Saw Blades: Typically used in edgebanding applications to snip material overhang, PCD sawblades excel at this application due to the abrasive nature of the material and glue. PCD saw blades last far longer in this role, reducing downtime from tool changes.
- Mitre Cutting Saw Blades: For mitre cutting operations, specifically in furniture manufacturing, saw blades are often expected to deal with a broad range of abrasive materials such as chipboard or particleboard. Running at higher feed rates, diamond saw blades reduce cycle times and can process more mixed material before sharpening.
- General Sizing Applications: For general sizing applications across slid wood and wood services materials PCD saw blades are still a go-to for most joiners across the UK. Benefiting form extended tool life, PCD saw blades typically end up having a lower long term cost than carbide alternatives.
Why Choose PCD Saw Blades Over TCT or HSS:
While the initial investment in PCD tooling is higher, the superior tool life (often 50 to 100 times longer than TCT in abrasive applications) and the massive reduction in machine downtime for blade changes quickly results in a significantly lower overall cost per meter cut.
For high-volume manufacturers, PCD is the clear winner for profitability and consistent quality. The extended tool life also means that replacement frequency is reduced, further reducing downtime from tool changes. However, the tougher cutting material is also more brittle and prone to chipping or snapping during high-intensity operations.
Choosing The Right PCD Sawblade:
Selecting the appropriate PCD saw blade requires careful consideration of the material being cut and the cutting action required. We highly recommend you reach out to Leitz, The PCD tooling experts for bespoke advice.
- Tooth Geometry: Different cuts require specific tooth forms. For example, a Trapezoidal-Flat (TR-F) or Triple Chip Grind (TCG) tooth is often best for laminated materials to prevent chipping, while a specific alternating top bevel (ATB) might be suited for solid composites.
- Blade Diameter and Bore: Must match the specifications of your machine (e.g., panel saw, beam saw). Leitz can support you if you are unsure.
Tooth Count (Z): A higher tooth count yields a smoother finish but a slower feed rate; a lower count offers a faster cut but a coarser finish. This often depends on your material or specific application.
- PCD Tip Thickness/Grade: The thickness of the diamond layer determines the number of re-sharpening cycles and overall life. Investing in premium-grade PCD ensures the longest possible service life. Smaller kerf sizes also lead to less wasted material.
Choosing The Right PCD Sawblade:
Selecting the appropriate PCD saw blade requires careful consideration of the material being cut and the cutting action required. We highly recommend you reach out to Leitz, The PCD tooling experts for bespoke advice.
- Tooth Geometry: Different cuts require specific tooth forms. For example, a Trapezoidal-Flat (TR-F) or Triple Chip Grind (TCG) tooth is often best for laminated materials to prevent chipping, while a specific alternating top bevel (ATB) might be suited for solid composites.
- Blade Diameter and Bore: Must match the specifications of your machine (e.g., panel saw, beam saw). Leitz can support you if you are unsure.
- Tooth Count (Z): A higher tooth count yields a smoother finish but a slower feed rate; a lower count offers a faster cut but a coarser finish. This often depends on your material or specific application.
- PCD Tip Thickness/Grade: The thickness of the diamond layer determines the number of re-sharpening cycles and overall life. Investing in premium-grade PCD ensures the longest possible service life. Smaller kerf sizes also lead to less wasted material.
Choosing The Right PCD Sawblade:
At Leitz Tooling UK Ltd, we don't just supply PCD saw blades; we provide engineered cutting solutions designed for peak performance and maximum profitability.
High Quality Diamond Grades: Leitz uses advanced, high-performance PCD grades optimized for specific industry applications, guaranteeing superior wear resistance compared to standard options.
Optimized Tool Geometry: Our blades are designed using decades of German engineering expertise. This means precise tooth pitches, optimized rake angles, and body design that minimises noise, vibration, and energy consumption while ensuring a flawless cut finish.
Full Service Support: We offer a full-service package including professional PCD tooling repair and re-sharpening. When your blade is due for service, our specialists use state-of-the-art diamond grinding equipment to restore the exact original specifications, ensuring you get the maximum number of cycles and the full value from your investment.
Choose Leitz for your PCD saw blades and benefit from reliable quality, reduced downtime, and the industry’s best cost-per-cut.