Saw Blade Design

ScrollSwipe down to navigate the glossary.

Alternate Face Bevel (AFB)

Provide angle bevel on tooth face for ATB grind only.

Anti‐Kickback Shoulder (AK)

Shoulder design which prevents kickback during cutting.

Back Angle (BA)

Clearance angle at top of blade. Affects shoulder strength and changes with blade type.

Bolt Hole Circle (BHC)

The common diameter for all pinholes on the saw blade.

Bore (B)

Saw blades are mounted to the cutting machine. Also known as the arbor hole.

Carbide Tip (CT)

Available in a wide‐variety of grades for cutting various materials. Tips are brazed to the plate and can be re‐sharpened.

Cooling Slot (CS)

Special design slots cut into the saw plate in order to promote cooling during cutting.

Copper Plug (CP)

Press‐fit into saw plate to assist with vibration and noise reduction.

Countersink

Note that the Face of the carbide tip is coming at you when declaring Lefthand and Righthand saws. Metric fasteners have 90° countersink while Imperial fasteners use 82° countersink. 

A flat head cap screw (FHCS) is typically used to hold the saw blade to the saw machine’s spindle. Please provide the fastener diameter when ordering custom saws with countersunk bolt holes.

Diameter (D)

Distance from tip to tip across the blade.

Expansion Slot (ES)

Reduces vibration and noise. Allows expansion and contraction caused by heating.

Face (F)

Flat plane of each tip that is parallel with hook angle. The face is typically re‐ground each time the blade is sharpened to provide a “new” cutting edge with the tip sides and top.

Gullet (G)

Area between shoulder and next tip into which material being cut gathers and is ejected.

Keyway (KW)

Mounting feature required by some cutting machines. Provide width (W) and depth (D).

Hook Angle (H)

Angle formed between tooth face and a radial line from center of bore. Forward leaning is a positive angle; backward leaning is negative.

Kerf (K)

Tip width measured at widest point.

Pinholes (PH)

Mounting feature required by some cutting machines. Specify quantity, Pinhole Diameter (PHD), Bolt Hole Circle (BHC), and countersink information, if required. (e.g. 2/10/60)

Plate (P)

Saw body to which carbide tips are brazed and ground to create a finished saw blade.

Radial Side Clearance (R or T‐B)

Relief created by precision grinding to prevent side of tip from contacting material being cut and causing melting or burning.

Shoulder (S)

The portion of the saw plate to which carbide tip is brazed. Varies with blade design and material being cut.

Side

Both sides of each tip have a compound grind to provide adequate clearance for the material being cut.

Tangential Clearance (T or F‐B)

Relief from front of tip to back of tip to provide clearance during cutting to prevent melting or burning.

Tension Ring (TR)

Ring created during the tensioning process to assist with keeping plate straight and flat during the cutting process.

Top Bevel Angle (TB)

Created by precision grinding the top of each tip. A steeper (larger) angle provides a sharper tooth, but one which becomes dull more quickly.