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Also known as metal slitting saws, these cutters are designed for thin slitting and slotting jobs. They are thinner than staggered-tooth milling cutters and don't have side teeth. Slitting cutters are ground concave for free cutting through the workpiece. When choosing a cutter, consider the diameter and the number of teeth. A cutter with a smaller diameter provides better rigidity. To determine how many teeth your cutter should have, follow these guidelines:
• Always have at least three teeth in the cut.
• Use more teeth for thin and hard materials.
• Use fewer teeth for soft materials and larger sections.
Note: Use cutters individually. Do not gang-mount on a single arbor.
General Purpose High-Speed Steel Cutters— Use for cutoff, slitting, and slotting applications. Cutters with a 2 3/4" dia. are also known as screw slotting saws; other diameters are also known as plain metal slitting saws. All have a standard keyway. Cutter diameter tolerance is ±0.015"; thickness tolerance is ±0.001".
Smooth-Finish High-Speed Steel Cutters— Use on very thin materials (wire, tubing, and extrusions) that require light delicate cuts. Also known as jewelers' slotting saws. Cutters do not have a keyway (unless noted). Cutter diameter tolerance is ±0.015"; thickness tolerance is ±0.001".
Solid Carbide Cutters— Last at least five times longer than high-speed steel. Cutters can be used for climb (down) milling versus conventional (up) milling for better tooth engagement and part finish. Cutters do not have a keyway. Cutter diameter tolerance is ±0.015"; thickness tolerance is ±0.00025".