Diamond Blades Explained

Diamond cutting discs are used to cut through a wide range of tough materials, including concrete, asphalt and metals. When looking at a range of diamond disc blades, there is some terminology in the specifications that is important to understand, to ensure you get the right tool for the job.

The Makeup of a Diamond Cutting Disc

The three main components that make up a diamond blade are the Segment, Segment Attachment and the Steel Centre.

Segment

The diamond grit on a diamond cutting disc is the ingredient that produces the cutting edge. The diamond grit is held within a matrix bond around the edge of the disc, comprising of a mixture of copper, tin, carbon, iron, cobalt, nickel, and graphite amongst others.

This is the element that determines the wear rate of the segment and how often the new layer of diamond grit is exposed to the cutting surface.

When combined, the diamond grit and matrix bond are more commonly known as the 'segment'.

Segment Attachment

The main two methods of attaching a segment to the steel centre of a disc blade are 'laser welding' and 'sintering'.

Laser welded blades tend to command a higher price, due to the increased manufacturing costs involved with attaching the segments to the steel centre individually.

Sintered products can be produced in larger batches, reducing the manufacturing costing per item.

Steel Centre

The steel centres used in the manufacture of diamond blades can vary in design and quality dependant on the grade of steel used. In many cases, the steel centre is relatively matched to the estimated segment lifetime.

The material application of a diamond blade will determine whether the steel centre requires cooling holes or under cutting protection.

Some other steel centre features available are laser scrolling and sandwich centre which are used for the purpose of reducing resonant noise whilst cutting.

Diamond Blade Applications

Diamond cutting blades can be used for a wide range of applications, in workshops and on site. They can be used in machines such as angle grinders, disc cutters, table saws and more, for cutting even the hardest materials, like concrete, asphalt, metals and abrasive materials.

The lifetime of diamond blades can vary considerably, depending on the grade of the blade and the application. This is why the most important aspect of choosing the right diamond blade is to establish the application that it will be predominantly used for. The correct choice early on will provide faster, cleaner and more cost effective results.

Order Diamond Cutting Discs Online

We supply a wide range of diamond blades for all kinds of cutting applications. Our range includes top brands like Mexco - so you can be sure that we have the right tool for your job.

Use the filters in our categories to narrow down the selection to blades which suit your application. Order online for fast delivery to you!