Need Help?  800-733-4063

Glossary and Terms

Original Saw Glossary and Terms Part 1

There are many terms tossed around the office and plant at Original Saw.  As a woman in manufacturing, I had the distinct “advantage” of knowing nothing about machinery in general.  Lots of times I will say to my fellow male co-workers, “Yeah.  I don’t know what that means.” or “I have no clue what you’re talking about.”  At this point they kindly (or not so kindly ;)) educate me on the basics.  No question is a dumb question, right?

Below is a glossary of words commonly used at our company and in the industry. Today I will do my best to decode and decipher all these phrases and explain them to you.

Radial Arm Saw – A cutting machine that consists of a carriage moving along an arm.  As the blade spins, it moves through the wood or metal that you are cutting.  People joke that the radial arm saw is dead, but that’s not so.  It’s used in many industries to crosscut, rip, bevel or miter cut.  The versatile Radial Arm Saw is used in wood shops, packaging companies, commercial storefront manufacturers, sign manufacturing, industrial arts programs in schools and colleges, aircraft manufacturers, home improvement centers and many other businesses.

Beam Saw – This is the biggest saw we make and can be used to cut through wood or metal.  The carriage slides on tracks above the cutting area and the blade moves through the material you are cutting.  Beam saws have more than a 5 1/2′ crosscut. They are commonly used in garage door manufacturing, commercial decking, crating companies and construction companies.

Cut Off Saw – Used for mainly wood and plastics, this saw makes straight cuts.  It has a covered cutting area to provide  extra safety.  Cut Off Saws work best when paired with Roller or Flat Extension Tables to help support the material as it’s fed into and out of the saw.  This saw is commonly seen in home improvement centers, lumber yards, packaging companies and cabinet shops.

Miter Cut – An angle cut.  Think picture frame.  This cut is achieved by swiveling the arm of a Radial Arm Saw to the desired degree.

The art of bevel cutting

Bevel Cut –  An angle cut.  Think mop boards.  This cut is achieved by swiveling the motor of a Radial Arm Saw down to a bevel.

How Does Electricity Work? | Wonderopolis

Voltage –  Voltage is what makes electric charges move. It is the ‘push’ that causes charges to move in a wire or other electrical conductors.  In the US common commercial voltages are 208, 230 and 460.

Emergency STOP Button N/C Switch - Maker Store USA

E-Stop – An emergency stop.  It is a simple, highly visible button designed to shut down operations quickly.  E-Stops are standard features on all Radial Arm Saws, Beam Saws and Cut Off Saws.

 

Related Blog Posts

Original Saw Company's Beam Saw with Electronic Power Cross Feed, and a remote start/stop station

Five Things to Know Before Buying a Beam Saw

Assess Your Cutting Needs Manufacturers need solutions when cutting large items like wood, metals, and plastics. Beam Saws come to the rescue when long, deep ...
Read More
A piece of wood is ready to be cut while using Original Saw Company's Saw Measuring System to measure.

Measure Once, Cut Once

WORK SMARTER, NOT HARDER WITH A WOOD CUTTING STATION We put our Wood Cutting Station to the test.  Can the Wood Cutting Station stand up ...
Read More
Original Saw Company's Heavy Duty Radial Arm Saw

Safety Tips for Radial Arm Saws

SAFETY TIPS ARE ALWAYS A PRIORITY WHEN WORKING WITH CUTTING EQUIPMENT. When crosscutting with a Radial Arm Saw, follow the safety tips: Hold wood against ...
Read More
22.5" Super Duty Radial Arm Saw with an aluminum extruded table.

Test Cutting Metals, IWF Connect & Dave

Test Cuts with Metal Cutters Did you know that we make test cuts at our location? Customers send material samples to Original Saw Company. Next, ...
Read More