Production technologies

Laser Welding and Brazing
Aiming at highest standards in terms of Quality, Pentax guarantees the product traceability along the whole production process, which means that, basing on the lot identification number marked on the blade, each single step of the blade production - segment - powder - diamond - steel core can be reconstructed.
The metal and the diamond powder are taken out of stock basing on their bar codes by means of a modern measuring device (pic. 1) that grants best accuracy, reliability and repeatability. After the steps of mixing and granulation (pic. 2), the powder compound provided with identification code is vacuum packed to avoid oxidation. The powder stock room is kept at monitored humidity and temperature values to ensure constant production values and standards throughout the year.
The segment manufacturing is handled per gravimetric and volumetric process (pic.3 / 4 / 5) and also covers a wide range of custom shaped segments (pic. 6).



Following the sintering step, the segments go through tumbling and grinding (pic. 7), procedures that guarantee maximum strength according to EN 13236.
The sintered segments are tested on hardness, dimension and density (pic. 8).
The steel cores are made in compliance with the regulation standards (size and hardness tolerance) are available also in silent and pierced version, the latter enhancing the blade cooling during work.
The production lot is marked before the segments are welded on the steel core (pic. 9).
Thus the full traceability along the whole process is granted.



There are two welding modes for diamond blades:

The laser welding assembles steel core and segment socket through heating from the laser device; the process is carried out on semi-automatic or automatic welding lines (pic. 10) basing on the single lot size.



Brazing: the segments are brazed by heating a silver wire (pic. 11).



Afterwards the strength of the welding is checked and measured with a dynamometric key or an automatic machine, according to the non -
destructive test indications contained in the related regulation (pic. 12). The following step is to grind the segments (pic. 13) to sharpen the diamond and make it come out on surface. While cutting, the diamond tips wear down and fall away; the metal alloy has to wear down as well to let further diamond particles emerge. After grinding, all blades are varnished to prevent the steel core from rusting.
All blades are checked for tension, since only if adequately tensioned, a blade achieves best cutting performance, accuracy and linearity, while anomalous vibrations or even the breaking of the blade are prevented.
The specific, custom requirements for the blade - colour, laser or other label, packing - are realized in the following step (pic .14 and 15)
The finished products are stored inside an automated warehouse (pic. 16), handlings several steps of the order processing.



Sintered Diamond Rim Blades
Such blades are manufactured inside a hydrogen furnace provided with a cooling station. The granules made of metal and diamond powder are initially automatically or semi - automatically cold pressed along the steel core’s edge. The sintering process is handled per dedicated software.
Then the strength test is carried out according to EN 13236.
Finally, the steps of tensioning, grinding and varnishing close the process.

Welded Diamond Core Bits
Core bits are either laser welded (up to diameter 300) (pic. 17) or soldered.
Each single segment mounted on the core bit is then checked with a dynamometric key.