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Glossary of Terms

Speed: Normally measured in surface feet per minute (sfpm) or surface meters per minute (smpm) - is the tangential velocity of the saw tooth.

Feed: Refers to rate of linear advance of the saw blade through the workpiece and is measured in inches per minute/millimeters per minute or sometimes feed per tooth or feed per revolution (Feed per minute = feed per tooth x number of teeth x RPM).

Load: Is "feed per tooth"

Pitch: Is the distance, measured circumferentially, between adjacent teeth (pitch = Pi x diameter / number of teeth).

Rake or Rake Angle: Refers to the inclination of the tooth face, upon which the chip impinges, measured perpendicularly to the direction of motion of the tooth. Rake may range from extreme positive through zero to extreme negative.

Swarf: Refers to the chips produced

Kerf: Refers to the width of the cut (but is sometimes used to mean the saw thickness)

Flat Grind or Straight Grind: Refers to a saw design where the sides are parallel, therefore the cutting width or kerf remains the same as the blade is reground.

Hollow Grind or Taper Grind: Refers to a design where the sides are tapered at a slight angle (typically 5 to 10 minutes of angle) to provide side clearance. As the saw is reground, cutting width is reduced.

Pick Up: Refers to the adherence of workpiece material to the saw.

Gullet: Refers to the space between adjacent teeth.

Tooth Loading or Clogging: Refers to the condition where chips and melted workpiece material fill the tooth gullet and become compacted and welded in place.

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