Emco Bandsaw

ORANGE equipment: Assess your own competence after reviewing available information

Model: Emco BS-3
Blade 83.5" 1/2" wide 12TPI
Note - this is a wide blade, and is best for straight cuts. Equivalent to 12.5mm.

Norfolk Saw Services

The bandsaw can be used for wood and plastic, but moves too fast to cut metals.

Use dust extraction

bandsaw

Manual Front Page

File:Emco-bandsaw-manual-small-1.pdf

File:Emco-bandsaw-manual-small-2.pdf

Hints and Tips

Table Tilt

The bandsaw table can tilt up to 45 degrees.

To use this feature, loosen the M8 nut handle (newly 3d printed after the loss of the original), and use both hands to gently rotate the table.

Ensure that the two U-shaped metal spacers are parallel, and that the semi-circular frameis sitting within the grooves of the black support pins.

Tighten the M8 nut to secure.

Make sure to set the table back to 90 degrees after use, so it is ready for the next person to use.

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  Location of Table Tilt Nut

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  Table Tilted to 45 degrees

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  EMCO table tilt securing U-Shaped spacers & semi-circular support

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  EMCO_Table_Set_90_degrees

Troubleshooting

Remember that the table needs to be set at an angle relative to the blade, as this will determine the angle of the cut on the work
The table will be hard to turn if the semi-circular frame is not sitting in the black support pins, or if the pins are full of sawdust
The table will not be steady if the U-shaped spacers are not supporting the front and the back of the table - the bottom one can slide towards the back of the machine, so check that the spacer ends are supported at both ends

Opening up the Bandsaw

The upper and lower yellow metal plates should lift slightly, then be able to be pulled away. However, many of the black plastic pegs securing the fronts have broken. These will be replaced at some point, but there is currently a small amount of tape providing extra security until this is done. Remove the tape first, and take care when removing the plates to preserve the remaining pegs.

The central black metal plate. This small square plate sometimes needs to be removed for bandsaw speed reduction, and always needs to be removed to change the bandsaw blade. After removing the yellow plates, slide the black plate upwards slightly and sharply, and pull away from the machine body

It can be dangerous to run the bandsaw while the front panels are open, as if the blade breaks the broken end can flick outwards at speed. The panels protect the operator if this happens.

Bandsaw Speed

Sometimes, it is helpful to adjust the speed of the bandsaw

To adjust the bandsaw speed, open up all 3 panels at the front of the saw. The drive belt position can be moved to different wheels (see pictures) to adjust the speed that the blade turns.

Loosening the belt tension to fit the belt can make the process easier, and the belt tension should be checked and adjusted prior to bandsaw use. (See manual page 8)

Adjusting bandsaw drive belt tension

Material	Speed (rpm) @ 50 Hz	Speed (rpm) @ 60 H	Belt position	Bandsaw blade
Wood (thin items)	1680	2000	C - 2	6 mm wide for curve cutting with radii over 30 mm 10 111m wide for longitudinal and cross cutting, curve cutting with radii over 40 mm 15 wide for straight cutting and thick workpieces
Wood (thick items) plastics	1050	1250	B - l	6 mm wide for curve cutting with radii over 30 mm 10 111m wide for longitudinal and cross cutting, curve cutting with radii over 40 mm 15 wide for straight cutting and thick workpieces
Steel ( iron)	210	250	A - Lower Bandsaw Roller	5 mm wide, 24 teeth/ inch
Non—ferrous metals ( aluminium , brass. )	1050	1250	B - l	6 mm wide, tooth spacing 4

Note Bandsaw blades provided by the hackspace are 12.5mm wide.

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  Bandsaw wheel locations

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  Position of belt on bandsaw wheels. Note that wheels have multiple belt grooves, and position A is a groove seemingly level with the bandsaw blade