MK Diamond MK-101 JCS Rental - Manual (Page 48)

MK-101 Home Depot Rental Revision 04/05, Effective Date April 21, 2005 Page 48
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