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 Diamond Blade Material Safety Data Sheet |
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| Speed Guidelines |
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Tile diamond blade speed recommendations |
| Diameter |
Recommended RPM* |
Maximum RPM** |
| 4" |
(102mm) |
9,075 |
15,000 |
| 5" |
(127mm) |
7,260 |
12,000 |
| 6" |
(152mm) |
6,050 |
10,185 |
| 8" |
(203mm) |
5,185 |
8,730 |
| 9" |
(229mm) |
4,540 |
7,640 |
| 10" |
(254mm) |
3,630 |
6,115 |
| 12" |
(305mm) |
3,025 |
5,095 |
| 12" |
(305mm) |
High Speed (Dry) |
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| 14" |
(356mm) |
2,270 |
3,820 |
| 14" |
(356mm) |
High Speed (Dry) |
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* Based upon the Optimum Performance Speed calibrated in Surface Feet per Minute (SFM): 9500 + 15%. Not for lapidary blades.
** Based upon ANSI B7.1 & B7.5 guidelines for maximum safe/never exceed speeds.
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Stone diamond blade speed recommendations |
| Diameter |
Recommended
RPM |
Never Exceed
RPM |
| 4" |
(102mm) |
9,000 |
15,200 |
| 4-1/2" |
(114mm) |
8,000 |
13,500 |
| 5" |
(127mm) |
7,200 |
12,200 |
| 5-1/2" |
(14mm) |
6,500 |
11,100 |
| 6" |
(152mm) |
6,000 |
10,100 |
| 7" |
(178mm) |
5,100 |
8,700 |
| 8" |
(203mm) |
4,500 |
7,600 |
| 9" |
(229mm) |
4,000 |
6,700 |
| 10" |
(254mm) |
3,600 |
6,100 |
| 12" |
(305mm) |
3,000 |
5,000 |
| 14" |
(356mm) |
2,500 |
4,300 |
| 16" |
(406mm) |
2,200 |
3,800 |
| 18" |
(457mm) |
2,000 |
3,300 |
| 20" |
(508mm) |
1,800 |
3,000 |
| 22" |
(559mm) |
1,600 |
2,700 |
| 24" |
(610mm) |
1,500 |
2,500 |
| 26" |
(660mm) |
1,300 |
2,300 |
| 28" |
(711mm) |
1,200 |
2,100 |
| 30" |
(762mm) |
1,200 |
2,000 |
| 32" |
(813mm) |
1,100 |
1,900 |
| 36" |
(914mm) |
1,000 |
1,600 |
| 42" |
(1067mm) |
800 |
1,400 |
| 48" |
(1219mm) |
700 |
1,200 |
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| * Recommended RPM based on 9,500 SFPM |
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Lapidary diamond blade speed recommendations |
| Blade |
MK-297 |
MK-301 |
MK-1000 |
MK-303 |
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Recommended RPM Operating Range
in Surface Feet Per Minute |
|
3000 - 3500 |
3000 - 4500 |
4500 - 6000 |
4500 - 6000 |
| Blade Diameter |
Approximate Arbor Shaft RPM Range |
| 4" (102mm) |
2860 - 3340 |
2860 - 4300 |
4300 - 5730 |
4300 - 5730 |
| 5" (127mm) |
2290 - 2670 |
2290 - 3440 |
3440 - 4580 |
3440 - 4580 |
| 6" (152mm) |
1910 - 2230 |
1910 - 2870 |
2870 - 3820 |
2870 - 3820 |
| 7" (178mm) |
1640 - 1910 |
1640 - 2460 |
2460 - 3270 |
2460 - 3270 |
| 8" (203mm) |
1430 - 1670 |
1430 - 2150 |
2150 - 2870 |
2150 - 2870 |
| 9" (229mm) |
1270 - 1490 |
1270 - 1910 |
1910 - 2550 |
1910 - 2550 |
| 10" (254mm) |
1150 - 1340 |
1150 - 1720 |
1720 - 2290 |
1720 - 2290 |
| 12" (305mm) |
960 - 1110 |
960 - 1430 |
1430 - 1910 |
1430 - 1910 |
| 14" (356mm) |
820 - 960 |
820 - 1230 |
1230 - 1640 |
1230 - 1640 |
| 16" (406mm) |
720 - 840 |
720 - 1070 |
1070 - 1430 |
1070 - 1430 |
| 18" (457mm) |
640 - 740 |
640 - 960 |
960 - 1270 |
960 - 1270 |
| 20" (508mm) |
570 - 670 |
570 - 860 |
860 - 1150 |
860 - 1150 |
| 24" (610mm) |
480 - 560 |
480 - 720 |
720 - 960 |
720 - 960 |
| 30" (762mm) |
380 - 450 |
380 - 570 |
570 - 760 |
570 - 760 |
| 36" (914mm) |
320 - 370 |
320 - 480 |
480 - 640 |
480 - 640 |
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Masonry diamond blade speed recommendations |
| Diameter |
Recommended
RPM |
Never Exceed
RPM |
| 4" |
(102mm) |
9,000 |
15,200 |
| 4-1/2" |
(114mm) |
8,000 |
13,500 |
| 5" |
(127mm) |
7,200 |
12,200 |
| 5-1/2" |
(14mm) |
6,500 |
11,100 |
| 6" |
(152mm) |
6,000 |
10,100 |
| 7" |
(178mm) |
5,100 |
8,700 |
| 8" |
(203mm) |
4,500 |
7,600 |
| 9" |
(229mm) |
4,000 |
6,700 |
| 10" |
(254mm) |
3,600 |
6,100 |
| 12" |
(305mm) |
3,000 |
5,000 |
| 14" |
(356mm) |
2,500 |
4,300 |
| 16" |
(406mm) |
2,200 |
3,800 |
| 18" |
(457mm) |
2,000 |
3,300 |
| 20" |
(508mm) |
1,800 |
3,000 |
| 22" |
(559mm) |
1,600 |
2,700 |
| 24" |
(610mm) |
1,500 |
2,500 |
| 26" |
(660mm) |
1,300 |
2,300 |
| 28" |
(711mm) |
1,200 |
2,100 |
| 30" |
(762mm) |
1,200 |
2,000 |
| 32" |
(813mm) |
1,100 |
1,900 |
| 36" |
(914mm) |
1,000 |
1,600 |
| 42" |
(1067mm) |
800 |
1,400 |
| 48" |
(1219mm) |
700 |
1,200 |
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| * Recommended RPM based on 9,500 SFPM |
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Concrete diamond blade speed recommendations |
| Diameter |
Recommended
RPM |
Never Exceed
RPM |
| 4" |
(102mm) |
9,000 |
15,200 |
| 4-1/2" |
(114mm) |
8,000 |
13,500 |
| 5" |
(127mm) |
7,200 |
12,200 |
| 5-1/2" |
(14mm) |
6,500 |
11,100 |
| 6" |
(152mm) |
6,000 |
10,100 |
| 7" |
(178mm) |
5,100 |
8,700 |
| 8" |
(203mm) |
4,500 |
7,600 |
| 9" |
(229mm) |
4,000 |
6,700 |
| 10" |
(254mm) |
3,600 |
6,100 |
| 12" |
(305mm) |
3,000 |
5,000 |
| 14" |
(356mm) |
2,500 |
4,300 |
| 16" |
(406mm) |
2,200 |
3,800 |
| 18" |
(457mm) |
2,000 |
3,300 |
| 20" |
(508mm) |
1,800 |
3,000 |
| 22" |
(559mm) |
1,600 |
2,700 |
| 24" |
(610mm) |
1,500 |
2,500 |
| 26" |
(660mm) |
1,300 |
2,300 |
| 28" |
(711mm) |
1,200 |
2,100 |
| 30" |
(762mm) |
1,200 |
2,000 |
| 32" |
(813mm) |
1,100 |
1,900 |
| 36" |
(914mm) |
1,000 |
1,600 |
| 42" |
(1067mm) |
800 |
1,400 |
| 48" |
(1219mm) |
700 |
1,200 |
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| * Recommended RPM based on 9,500 SFPM |
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Diamond core bit speed recommendations |
| Wet Bit Diameter |
Max/Min RPM* |
| 1" - 2" |
(25mm - 51mm) |
1,200 - 1,000 |
| 2-1/4 " - 5" |
(57mm - 127mm) |
1,000 - 500 |
| 5-1/4" - 12" |
(134mm - 305mm) |
500 - 250 |
| Dry Bit Diameter |
Max/Min RPM* |
| 1" - 1-1/2" |
(25mm - 38mm) |
6000 - 2300 |
| 1-3/4" |
(44mm) |
5000 - 1600 |
| 2" - 2-1/4" |
(51mm - 57mm) |
5000 - 1200 |
| 2-1/2" |
(64mm) |
5000 - 800 |
| 3" - 5" |
(76mm - 127mm) |
5000 - 700 |
| 6" |
(152mm) |
5000 - 600 |
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* Based upon the Optimum Performance Speed
calibrated in Surface feet per Minute (SFM). |
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| Understanding Materials |
| Ceramic Tile | Stone | Masonry | Concrete | Asphalt |
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Ceramic products are varied and depending on their manufacturing processes, they exhibit their own special qualities and properties. The hardness of the ceramic material is directly attributed to its manufacturing process, and generally references the Mohs Scale to categorize its hardness.
The Manufacturing Process
Ceramic tile production begins with the excavation of clays to be used in the manufacturing process. Depending on the type of tile being produced, any number of two to six different types and colors of clay may be necessary to blend together in a mixture.
The selected bulk clays are mixed with water and this mixture is pumped into large, rotating cylindrical mills, where extreme grinding action pulverizes the clay into uniform and homogenous particles. This substrate is called “body-slip,” and has the consistency of a milk shake.
Next, moisture from the body-slip is evaporated by a spray dryer burner, creating fine particles of uniformly sized dry clay called “powder.” The powder is then fed into molds within a hydraulic press, where it is molded under pressure (approximately 4,000 PSI) to form “green ware” (what the tile is called prior to being fired). The green ware is dried again to further reduce the moisture content, and then travels down “glaze lines” where various types of glazes are applied to the surface.
The glazed green ware travels through a kiln and undergoes a 45-50 minute firing where temperatures can reach 2300°F causing the glaze to fuse to the body. The tile that emerges from this process is very hard, durable and impact resistant.
Hardness of Ceramic Tiles
| • |
Water absorption rate, glazes, compression and material all determine the hardness of ceramic tile |
| • |
The percentage of water absorption by the tile body determines whether the ceramic tile is Impervious, Vitreous, Semi-Vitreous, or Non-Vitreous. From Impervious, where absorption rates of 15% and higher, harness factors change |
| • |
Most glazes fall in the 5 to 6 Mohs Scale range. However, certain types of floor and porcelain tiles can have compressive strengths of 10,000 PSI and a Mohs hardness factor of 8 |
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Natural and precast stones vary significantly in their geographic origin, mineralogical composition, and physical and mechanical properties. There are numerous types of stone to select, with each one exhibiting specific qualities of compressive strength and abrasive resistance.
| • Marble |
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• Sandstone |
| • Granite |
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• Limestone |
| • Slate/Flagstone |
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• Precast Stones |
Additionally, these qualities would dictate appropriate diamond-blade selection to effectively handle cutting requirements. Your choice of stone requires a specific type of diamond Blade.
General Characteristics of Stone
The complex nature and variables of Natural and Precast stone make it difficult to generalize their overall physical and mechanical properties.
Unless the operator has had experience in cutting a particular stone, there are methods that can help predict the stone's sawability, and so determine the “best” diamond blade. The American Society of Testing and Materials (ASTM) recognizes several physical property measurements that can identify a stone's hardness:
| • |
Uniaxial Compressive Strength (UCS)
Measuring basic rock strength parameters. Commonly measured in Pounds Per Square Inch (PSI) |
| • |
Cerchar Abrasivity Index (CAI)
Measuring a rocks abrasivity for determining cutting wear rates. Defined by a graduated numerical scale: lower numbers indicating less abrasive qualities, and therefore greater hardness. |
| • |
Mohs Hardness Scale
A scale of hardness applied to minerals that ranges from 1 to 10, and comparatively indicates a mineral's scratch potential. The higher the number the harder the mineral. |
| • |
Shore Scleroscope Hardness Test
A dynamic indentation hardness test using a number to indicate the height of a rebounding hammer off the surface of the material. The higher the number the harder the material. |
It is recommended to review all data relating to a stone's hardness and abrasive qualities to effectively choose the proper diamond blade. No singular Property Measurement Test can define the characteristics a stone would exhibit during the cutting process. As a general reminder for stone diamond blades: tests and industry experience has documented that stone exhibiting a greater degree of hardness and abrasive resistance require softer bond matrixes. |
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Brick manufacturing today follows fundamental procedures pioneered centuries ago. However, better knowledge of raw materials and their properties, better control of firing and improved kiln designs have resulted in a superior product. The production of bricks centers around the type of clay that is used. Clays occur in three forms (Surface Clays, Fire Clays & Shales). Although they share similar chemical compositions, they will differ in their physical characteristics. All properties of brick are affected by the composition of the raw materials and the manufacturing processes. Essentially brick are produced by: (1) mixing ground clay with water, (2) forming them into desired shapes, (3) then drying and firing them. Establishing a homogenous blend is necessary before subjecting the mixture to one of three forming processes (Stiff–Mud, Soft–Mud or Dry–Press). Next, the process continues with drying, firing and cooling. Kiln firing temperatures during manufacturing graduate from 400°F to 2400°F.
Hardness of Bricks
| • |
There are many different types of brick (Building, Facing, Hollow, Paving, Ceramic Glazed and Thin Brick), and different scales of hardness. The strength of a unit is used to determine its durability and cutability. Both compressive strength and absorption are affected by properties of the clay, method of manufacturing and degree of firing. Most bricks have a strength ranging from 3,000 PSI to over 20,000 PSI, with the average being around 10,000 PSI. |
| • |
Brick may also include different size, type and volume of aggregates to further strengthen the mix. |
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Four essentials must be known about the concrete to determine proper diamond-blade selection.
1. Compressive Strength
The hardness of concrete is referenced by its compressive strength measured in Pounds per Square Inch (PSI). Cured concrete slabs vary widely in compressive strength; with moisture, temperature, design of mixture additives, cementitious materials and curing processes often determining their measured level of strength. The higher the compressive strength, the harder the material.
Compressive Strength
| Concrete Hardness |
PSI |
Typical Application |
| Very hard |
8,000 or more |
Nuclear Plants |
| Hard |
6,000 - 8,000 |
Bridges, Piers |
| Medium |
4,000 - 6,000 |
Roads |
| Soft |
3,000 or less |
Sidewalks, Patios, Parking lots |
2. Age of the Concrete
The “age,” or length of curing time, greatly affects how the diamond blade interacts with the concrete. Although methods exist to accelerate the curing process, the “state” of concrete from initial pouring to a period of 72 hours and over can be defined in 3 distinct increments, and is influenced by temperature, weather, moisture, aggregate, time of year, admixtures and composition.
State 1 – 0 to 8 hours
The concrete is considered in its “green“ state 0 to 8 hours after the pour, meaning it has set but has not hardened completely. With green concrete, the sand in the mixture has not bonded to the mortar blend firmly and will cause extreme abrasive action once the physics of sawing begins. Further, the slurry generated by green concrete is equally as abrasive and will require special undercutting protection for the steel core of the diamond blade. Typically, sawing control joints of highways, industrial flooring, driveways, runways and similar projects is performed during this state.
State 2 – 8 to 24 hours
The concrete is considered as cured 8 to 24 hours after the pour. The sand is held firmly adhered to the overall mixture. Generally, control joints established in State 1 are widened during this time.
State 3 – 24 to 72
The concrete is considered as cured 24 to 72 hours after the pour. The sand is held firmly in the mortar mixture, and the overall abrasive actions and properties of the concrete are greatly diminished. Now, consideration of the aggregates, compression strength and steel content of the concrete become important factors in determining proper diamond-blade selection.
3. Aggregates and Sand
Aggregates are the granular fillers in cement that can occupy as much as 60 to 75% of the total volume. They influence the way both green and cured concrete perform. Aggregates can be naturally occurring minerals, sand and gravel, crushed stone or manufactured sand. The most desirable aggregates used in concrete are triangular or square in shape, and with hard, dense, well-graded and durable properties. The average size and composition of aggregates greatly influence the cutting characteristics and selection of the diamond blade. Large aggregates tend to cause blades to cut slower; smaller aggregates allow the blades to cut faster.
| Difficulty |
Average Aggregate Size |
| Harder to Cut (Blade wears slower) |
1-1/2" or more
1-1/2" to 3/4"
3/4" to 3/8" |
| Easier to Cut (Blade wears faster) |
Pea gravel (less than 3/8") |
Aggregate hardness is referenced by the Mohs Scale. This scale assigns arbitrary quantitative units, ranging from 1 through 10, by which the scratch hardness of a mineral is determined. Each unit of hardness is represented by a mineral that can scratch any other mineral having a lower-ranking number. The minerals are ranked from talc or 1 (the softest), upward through diamond or 10 (the hardest). Hard aggregates shorten blade life and reduce cutting speed.
Sand composition is another factor in determining the hardness characteristics of the cement and the abrasive properties of the mortar. Three types of sand are generally used in the mixture:
• River Sand (round nonabrasive)
• River Bank Sand (sharp abrasive)
• Manufactured Sand (sharp abrasive)
River Bank Sand and Manufactured Sand are more abrasive than River Sand. The more abrasive the sand is, the harder the bond-matrix requirements. Sharper, more geometrically defined sands also require harder bonds.
Mohs Hardness Scale
| Aggregate Classification Map of the United States |
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Soft |
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Medium Soft |
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Medium |
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Medium Hard |
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Hard |
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Aggregate Classification
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One of the key factors that determines the performance of diamond saws and drill bits is the type of aggregate in the concrete or asphalt being cut.
Aggregate is defined as the stone, gravel and sand used in paving materials like concrete and asphalt. Aggregate may be crushed or uncrushed. Crushed aggregate may be limestone, granite, sandstone, traprock, etc. Sand and gravel are typically found in natural deposits, like riverbeds, stream courses or Lake Basins.
Aggregate is generally divided into “fine aggregate” (passes through a No 4 sieve, 0.187’ square opening) and “coarse aggregate” (almost all of which is retained on a N0 4 sieve and may range in size up to 3’ particles).
While recognizing that aggregate size and type can change completely in a short distance on a given project (say highway). It is generally true that aggregates are similar in certain geographical areas. This is primarily due to local availability of one type of material and the prohibitive cost of importing anything else.
This aggregate map is not intended, nor should it be used to precisely define all aggregate in a given area. Instead, it is published as a “general guide” to the predominant aggregate hardness (as it relates to sawability) likely to be encountered in the area defined by the various colors.
It should also be pointed out that any aggregate can be sawed. However, the cost of sawing is usually directly related to aggregate hardness and size. This map is simply a reference tool to provide a general sense of aggregate similarity in various areas of the country. A brief description of the predominant aggregate in each state follows.
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| Alabama |
Aggregates vary from favorable materials such as limestone, sandstone, and blast furnace slag to hard materials such as quartzite and chert. The harder aggregate materials are found in the Central and Southwest sections of the state. |
| Alaska |
The predominant aggregates are gravel and crushed rock and would be classified as medium-hard. |
| Arizona |
A medium-hard gravel aggregate is encountered in most of the state and a medium-soft decomposed granite in some areas in the northern part of the state. The sand content tends to be highly abrasive. |
| Arkansas |
A medium-hard granite aggregate is encountered in the southern two-thirds of the state and a hart chert river gravel aggregate in the northern and northeastern part of the state. |
| California |
Medium-hard gravel aggregates are encountered in the El Centro through San Diego area as well as in the northern part of the state. A medium to medium-soft aggregate is encountered in the San Clemente, Los Angeles, Paso Robles, Lancaster and Bakersfield area. |
| Colorado |
The northern part of the state has medium to medium-soft aggregate comprised of decomposed granite. The Denver area and southeastern and eastern sections have medium-soft decomposed granite, limestone and gravel. The Colorado Springs area consists of a medium-hard gravel. |
| Connecticut |
Generally the aggregates consist of medium to medium-hard traprock and dolomite. |
| Delaware |
The major portion of the state contains medium-soft traprock and limestone aggregates. The Wilmington area does produce a medium-hard gravel aggregate. |
| Florida |
Generally the aggregates are composed of soft shell and argillaceous, siliceous and dolomitic limestone. The northern area sometimes uses hard Georgia and Alabama aggregates |
| Georgia |
Aggregates in the northern part of the state are medium-soft sandstone and limestone. The southern three-quarters of the state has medium-hard to hard granite, schist, gneiss, and quartzite aggregates. |
| Hawaii |
Aggregate conditions throughout the islands are of the medium-hard, basaltic type. |
| Idaho |
Generally medium-hard crushed stone and gravel aggregates. |
| Illinois |
Aggregates in this state may be divided into three sections, the northern area medium to hard gravel, the central section medium gravel and limestone, the southern area soft limestone. |
| Indiana |
The state has generally soft crushed limestone except in the southern and northwestern sections where medium-hard Ohio and Wabash river gravel occur. |
| Iowa |
In the Des Moines and central Iowa area medium-hard pit and river gravel are typical. Aggregates found in the eastern, central and southwestern sections are soft limestone. The eastern border along the Mississippi River has hard chert river gravel. Medium-hard pit gravel with quartzite is found in the northwestern section. |
| Kansas |
The aggregate conditions generally found are soft limestone. Medium-hard limestone, dolomite and hard chert gravel are found in the southeastern section, and medium-hard pit gravel i | | | | |
