A band head saw runs a continuous toothed blade around two wheels while a carriage advances the log. Compare band speed, teeth per inch and an entered bite per tooth to calculate tooth-pass frequency and implied feed.
Band-Saw Tooth-Pass and Implied-Feed Calculator
Enter bite per tooth, teeth per inch and band surface speed. The result is dimensional arithmetic only; use the exact saw and blade manufacturer data for permissible settings.
Equation Used
- Blade speed remains equal to the entered value under load.
- Tooth pitch is represented by the entered constant teeth-per-inch value.
- Every passing tooth advances by the entered bite; slip, deflection, material and machine limits are excluded.
Band speed and tooth pitch determine how many teeth pass a point each second. Applying the entered bite per tooth gives an implied feed rate; the result does not establish a permissible machine setting.
Band loop, working blade and log carriage
A band head saw runs a continuous toothed strip around driver and idler wheels. A log carriage holds and advances the log past the working blade segment. The calculator does not model wheel, blade, guide, carriage or log dynamics.
OSHA requires manufacturer speed limits, wheel and blade guarding, carriage controls and secured logs. The animation is explanatory and does not depict a compliant installation.
Entered-value arithmetic check
Use the screen to check unit conversion between band speed, teeth per inch, tooth-pass frequency, entered bite and implied feed. Select actual blades and settings only from the exact saw and blade manufacturers for the material and machine.
Tooth-pass relationship
A foot of blade contains 12·TPI teeth. Multiplying by V gives teeth per minute. Multiplying tooth passages by entered inches per tooth and converting consistently gives b·TPI·V in ft/min.
Arithmetic example
For b=0.002 in/tooth, TPI=2 and V=5,800 ft/min, tooth-pass frequency is 2,320 teeth/s and implied feed is 23.2 ft/min. This does not say the bite or speed is permissible for any saw, blade, species or cut.
Model boundary and safety
Power, gullet capacity, heat, blade tension, wheel diameter, guides, set, sharpness, kerf, log geometry, wood condition and cut quality are excluded. Follow manufacturer limits and applicable guarding, carriage-control and lockout requirements.
Band-saw arithmetic questions
Is implied feed a recommended setting?
No. It follows only from three entered values.
Why are engaged teeth not used?
Tooth-pass frequency depends on teeth per unit blade length and blade speed. Teeth simultaneously in the cut affect loading, not the kinematic identity.
Can this diagnose wavy cuts or blade cracking?
No. The calculation uses tooth pitch, band speed and entered bite only. It does not model blade condition, cutting forces, vibration or failure.
Primary and manufacturer references
- OSHA Sawmills eTool, Band Saws: band-saw topology, manufacturer-speed boundary and guarding requirements.
- OSHA 29 CFR 1910.265, Sawmills: log-carriage and band-head-saw requirements.
- Wood-Mizer LT30/40 Operator's Manual: machine-specific power-feed procedure and material-dependent maximum feed.
- Starrett Band Saw Blade Reference Guide: manufacturer blade-pitch, feed/speed and chip-reading guidance.
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