Aluminum Saws for Effective Cutting of Tubes, Sheets, Ingots

KASTO, Inc. (Export, PA) offers semi-automatic KASTOalu E 12 / U 12, U 14 and U 20 floor-standing circular saws that are especially suitable for aluminum, other light metals and plastics, using high performance carbide saw blades that have trapezoidal flat teeth with a positive cutting angle to ensure perfect results, even at low cutting pressures. Users have a choice of saw blades with different numbers of teeth, depending on the panel and plate thickness, to allow the creation of reproducibly precise, burr-free cut parts. Less work is required for reworking, and the parts can be further processed or installed right away. These semi-automatic saws cover a cutting range from 100 mm to 200 mm for tubes and profiles, and are capable of straight and mitre cuts, with an increment-free mitre angle between ±45 deg and ±90 deg, depending on the machine.

The fully automatic, numerically controlled KASTOalu A 13 has a cutting range of 100 mm for tubes and profiles. It is suitable only for straight cuts. All KASTOalu machines have a hydro-pneumatic, infinitely adjustable saw feed plus pneumatic horizontal and vertical clamping elements. An efficient micro-spray lubrication system and an integrated air gun are standard, and a connecting sleeve for installing a chip suction unit is also standard. Various roller tracks and measuring systems are available as optional accessories.

For low cost, high volume cutting of aluminum, copper and brass, the KASTOspeed M circular saw is available in two versions, with a cutting range of up to 90 mm or up to 152 mm (round stock). Its robust machine construction has an obliquely meshing spur gear mechanism, combined with a hydraulically damped measuring stop and a bar pusher, that can be moved rapidly into position to ensure precision cutting and very high output. Depending on the application, high speed steel, carbide tipped or PCD saw blades are used. Material feeding and sorting can be adapted to the user’s requirements by means of a well-designed modular system.

KASTOtec M band saws provide a quick, economical system for all common aluminum materials up to a diameter of 830 mm (round). A spindle-driven material advance slide exactly positions the material to be cut. Precision-balanced drive elements permit very high cutting speeds, in combination with smooth running that is kind to the tools. Specially designed blade guides support the tool and form short chips that are easy to dispose of. This band saw also has a self-explanatory control system with a clearly structured interface that makes operation much easier and reduces set up times.

The KASTOvertical M is the ideal machine for efficient sawing of small aluminum ingots, plates, castings and test strips, with a maximum height of 600 mm and a length of up to 1,250 mm. A moveable material support table ensures quick, safe handling of stock. Precision-balanced drive elements and specially designed blade guides permit cutting speeds of up to 100 m/min and high cutting performance, while ensuring a smooth sawing process with minimal tool wear and an optimal operational lifetime. The bandwheel housing is designed to optimize the path of flying chips to a suction device. The cutting speed and feed rate are continuously adjustable, and the BasicControl system with color touchscreen makes operation easy.

For material with large dimensions in aluminum mills and other facilities, the KASTOmaxcut gantry-type band sawing machine is suitable for fully automatic sawing of aluminum plates with a thickness of 6 mm to 2,000 mm. Depending on the version, the KASTOmaxcut can handle ingots with cross-sections up to 2,200 mm x 850 mm and lengths up to 4,100 mm. Its heavy duty design is suitable for medium-scale to very-large-scale production, with a continuously variable cutting speed from 300 m/min to 3,000 m/min. This saw runs very quietly and without vibration, and can be operated with both bimetallic and carbide blades. For example, Gleich Aluminumwerke GmbH & Co. KG (Kaltenkirchen, Germany), uses this saw to manufacture aluminum plates from ingots measuring 2,000 mm x 4,000 mm x 800 mm for customers in the mechanical engineering, toolmaking, aerospace, automotive and construction industries. The machine has significantly increased saw blade lives, reduced downtimes, and produces high cutting precision.

Thanks to its fully automatic operation, the factory increased their production while maintaining consistently high quality. Their KASTOmaxcut is equipped with strong roller tracks and transverse conveyors, plus a vacuum transfer unit to handle the ingots, which can weigh up to 15 tons.

KASTO, Inc., 3002 Venture Court, Export, PA 15632-8949, 724-325-5600, www.kasto.com/us.