MK Diamond MK-145 220 Volt - Manual (Page 29)

MK Diamond Products Inc. Customer Service Department (800) 421-5830
MK-145 Revision 09/04, Effective date – September 23, 2004 Page 29
THEORY:
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 composition 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
“controlled 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 flexible nature of MK Diamond blades to professionally handle most ceramic,
masonry, stone and concrete 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 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 coolant 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