Band saw machines

Graham Munro, technical support team leader, has been involved in the introduction of the range. "Although we have not previously sold the Starrett band saw machines in the UK, globally they have been available for more than four years. They have been sold very successfully by our partner in Southern Europe and by the Starrett Company in Brazil. We know that the Starrett machines are built for ease-of-use and are very robust. 

"With attention paid to the critical features, such as the diameter of the band wheels that are designed to minimise blade fatigue, we know the machines can deliver the cutting performance Starrett customers expect,” he says. 

Designed for small workshops or for use as a portable solution for site work, the range starts with the S1101 bench band saw. Weighing just 23kg it features a sturdy base and a die cast aluminium bow for rigidity and durability. It can cut tube up to 100mm diameter and structural section material up to 100 by 150mm using the Starrett 13mm wide band saw blade. It is fitted with a three-pin, 13A plug running from a single-phase 240V supply.

All of the gravity feed and semi-automatic band saws feature Starrett’s Dynamometric blade tensioning. This easy-to-use feature allows the saw operator to correctly tension the saw blade without any tools. A manual handle is wound to apply tension to the band, with a graduated gauge providing accurate feedback when the correct level of tension is reached for the blade width fitted to the machine.

Three gravity feed, manual band saws in the range all feature cast iron bows for vibration reduction and longevity. The S3120 is suitable for maintenance workshops, where space is at a premium. It features twin speed cutting ranges with raw material cutting capacities up to 170mm diameter and 95 by 210mm cross sections using 19mm wide saw blades. The S3420 provides a cutting capacity of up to 230mm diameter and cross sectional cuts up to 150 by 300mm; offering a larger cutting capacity of 250mm diameter and billet up to 250 by 320mm the S3720 also has two speed ranges. Designed for jobbing workshops it uses Starrett’s 27mm band saw blades. 

Both the S4220 and S4230 are semi-automatic band saws that feature a minimal footprint and are controlled hydraulic blade feed. While the larger capacity S4240 has smooth, controlled cutting and feed pressure combined with a rigid structure to create a semi-automatic band saw that is suitable for intensive use and for cutting harder materials up to 300mm diameter or square, and up to 220 by 450mm. It can also cut smaller pieces at an angle of up to 70°, making it suitable for architectural and intricate fabrication work. All of the semi-automatic saws have variable blade speeds between 20 and 85m/min with a digital readout making selecting the correct cutting conditions for the raw material very straightforward using Starrett 27 mm wide saw blades.

With a list of features often only available as extras on other machines, the S6330 tops the Starrett horizontal band saw range. It has been designed for use on harder metals, supporting production volume runs and programmed cutting operations. The twin cylinder columns have a 400mm by nine feed range with a single piece cutting capacity of 300mm round or square, and a maximum bundle size of 230 by 130mm. Bow speed and feed pressure is by hydraulic valve and the hydraulic vice features a centring device for warped stock. The cutting speed for the 34mm wide band saw blade is controlled by frequency invertor.

Like the horizontal machines, the vertical band saws have been designed with features to make them efficient to use. These include cutting tables that can be tilted to 45°, large diameter band wheels and powerful motors for increased cutting capacity. The S2030 is the largest machine in the range and features 610mm diameter rubberised and balanced cast iron flywheels, and a 3HP motor able to employ Starrett’s 27mm wide blades. The rubber is used to hold the blade centrally and improves the blade life.

Graham Munro concludes: "Every Starrett band saw machine is independently verified to very stringent safety levels, far exceeding the CE approval levels. For example, the electrical panels have double contactor switches as standard. So, if the emergency stop is pressed, to re-activate the machine the stop button has to be reset and an additional panel reset switch must be activated. It provides an extra level of safety for the operator and the machine.”