Method for maintaining a cutting blade centered in a kerf

Patent · Tue Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 2002

OSTI ID:874550

Blaedel, Kenneth L ^[1]; Davis, Pete J ^[2]; Landram, Charles S ^[3]

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1. Dublin, CA
2. Pleasanton, CA
3. Livermore, CA

A saw having a self-pumped hydrodynamic blade guide or bearing for retaining the saw blade in a centered position in the saw kerf (width of cut made by the saw). The hydrodynamic blade guide or bearing utilizes pockets or grooves incorporated into the sides of the blade. The saw kerf in the workpiece provides the guide or bearing stator surface. Both sides of the blade entrain cutting fluid as the blade enters the kerf in the workpiece, and the trapped fluid provides pressure between the blade and the workpiece as an inverse function of the gap between the blade surface and the workpiece surface. If the blade wanders from the center of the kerf, then one gap will increase and one gap will decrease and the consequent pressure difference between the two sides of the blade will cause the blade to re-center itself in the kerf. Saws using the hydrodynamic blade guide or bearing have particular application in slicing slabs from boules of single crystal materials, for example, as well as for cutting other difficult to saw materials such as ceramics, glass, and brittle composite materials.

• Research Organization: Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-48
• Assignee: The Regents of the University of California (Oakland, CA)
• Patent Number(s): US 6412377
• OSTI ID: 874550
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

method
maintaining
cutting
blade
centered
kerf
self-pumped
hydrodynamic
guide
bearing
retaining
position
width
cut
utilizes
pockets
grooves
incorporated
workpiece
provides
stator
surface
entrain
fluid
enters
trapped
pressure
inverse
function
gap
wanders
center
increase
decrease
consequent
difference
re-center
saws
application
slicing
slabs
boules
single
crystal
materials
example
difficult
ceramics
glass
brittle
composite
single crystal
composite material
cutting blade
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