BIZOMAT MAKEOS · Manufacturing
Band Saw Cutting Time
How long does each cut take on the band saw, and how many cuts per hour?
Cross-section area, cutting time per cut from the blade maker’s cutting rate, and output per hour including handling time, for round, rectangular and tube sections.
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How this tool works
Inputs, units and where to find them
| Input | Unit | Typical source |
|---|---|---|
| Section | choice | Shape of the stock. |
| Diameter or width | mm | Bar diameter, or width of a rectangular section, or tube outside diameter. |
| Height (rectangular) or wall (tube) | mm | Height of a rectangular section, or tube wall thickness (ignored for round bar). |
| Cutting rate | cm²/min | Area cut per minute for the material and blade, from the blade maker’s chart or your records. |
| Handling and approach time per cut | s | Time to index, clamp and approach for each cut. |
What each input means
Open an input to see what it is, its units, the worked example and the common mistakes, with a small diagram.
What this means: Section
- What it is
- The shape of the stock being cut: solid round bar, rectangular or flat bar, or round tube, which sets how the cut area is worked out.
- Units and format
- Choose one of 3 options from the list: Round bar; Rectangular or flat bar; Round tube.
- Example
- The form opens with “Round bar” selected as a worked example. Choose the option that matches your case.
What this means: Diameter or width
- What it is
- The bar diameter for a round bar, the width for a rectangular section, or the outside diameter for a tube.
- Units and format
- Enter a number in mm: millimetres. The form accepts 0.000001 mm to 10000 mm. Required: the tool does not calculate until every input is valid.
- Example
- The form opens with 100 mm as a worked example. It is an illustration, not a recommended value: replace it with your own figure.
- Effect on the result
- For solid round bar the cut area, and so the cutting time, rises with the square of the diameter.
What this means: Height (rectangular) or wall (tube)
- What it is
- The height of a rectangular section, or the wall thickness of a tube; not used for a solid round bar.
- Units and format
- Enter a number in mm: millimetres. The form accepts 0.000001 mm to 10000 mm. Required: the tool does not calculate until every input is valid.
- Example
- The form opens with 50 mm as a worked example. It is an illustration, not a recommended value: replace it with your own figure.
- Get it right
- For a tube, enter the wall thickness, not the bore.
What this means: Cutting rate
- What it is
- The area of cut the blade removes per minute in this material, from the blade maker’s chart or your own timed cuts.
- Units and format
- Enter a number in cm²/min: cm²/min. The form accepts 0.000001 cm²/min to 100000 cm²/min. Required: the tool does not calculate until every input is valid.
- Example
- The form opens with 40 cm²/min as a worked example. It is an illustration, not a recommended value: replace it with your own figure.
- Effect on the result
- Cutting time falls in inverse proportion to the cutting rate.
- Get it right
- Enter square centimetres per minute; one square centimetre is 100 mm².
What this means: Handling and approach time per cut
- What it is
- The non-cutting time for each cut: indexing the bar, clamping, approaching and returning the blade.
- Units and format
- Enter a number in s: seconds. The form accepts 0 s to 100000 s. Required: the tool does not calculate until every input is valid.
- Example
- The form opens with 30 s as a worked example. It is an illustration, not a recommended value: replace it with your own figure.
- Effect on the result
- More handling time lowers the number of cuts per hour.
- Get it right
- Enter seconds, not minutes; time a few real cycles if you can.
Method and formulas
- Area: round πD²/4; rectangle w × h; tube π(D² − (D − 2t)²)/4.
- Cutting time = area ÷ rate.
- Cuts per hour = 3600 ÷ (cutting time + handling time in seconds).
- Example: a 100 mm round bar at 40 cm²/min takes 1.9635 min to cut.
Limitations
- Cutting rates vary with material, blade, feed pressure and coolant; rates from tests are best.
- Bundle cutting and blade breakdown time are not included.
- Example values are illustrations. Replace them with values for your actual task.
Typical uses
- Estimate saw time for a cutting list
- Quote sawing and preparation
- Compare blade and material options
Who it is for
- Saw operators
- Estimators
- Production planners
What you get
- Cut area
- Cutting time per cut
- Cuts per hour
Interpreting the result
- Tubes and structural shapes cut faster per area but need finer-tooth blades.
References
- Machinery’s Handbook, 29th edition (Industrial Press, 2012), printed pp. 1182–1192. Topic reference; no source tables or recommended settings are reproduced.
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