Segmented VS Continuous Diamond Blade

Segmented VS Continuous Diamond Blade

Contact us to discuss your requirements of continuous rim vs segmented diamond blade. Our experienced sales team can help you identify the options that best suit your needs.

Diamond saw blades are available in various sizes, bond types, and performance levels, which can significantly differ from one blade to another. Whether you have a tile saw, masonry saw, concrete saw, or another type of saw, choosing the right blade is crucial for achieving the best results.

With the vast array of saw blades on the market, purchasing a replacement blade can be overwhelming. To achieve the quality cut you expect and optimal performance from your saw, it’s essential to select the most suitable blade for your project.

Let's take a closer look at the different types of diamond blades available and their best uses.

Diamond saw blades come with various rim or edge configurations, including segmented, continuous, and turbo. The diamond segments are attached to the blade through brazing, laser welding, or sintering.

What are Segmented Diamond Blades?

Segmented blades provide the roughest cut and are commonly used for cutting concrete, brick, stone, masonry/block, and hard/reinforced concrete. These blades are often referred to as dry-cutting blades because they can cut without water, thanks to the segments on the edge that allow air to flow and cool the blade core. The segments also help exhaust debris, enabling a faster cut. Overheating is a significant risk to a diamond blade's lifespan, as it can affect the bond and cause the blade to warp. These blades are ideal when water isn't readily available.

Segmented blades generally have medium to hard bonds for various wet and dry cutting applications. While these blades offer a relatively smooth cut with a fast cutting speed, chipping may occur. They are durable and have a longer blade life compared to other blade types.

These blades are typically used for cutting marble and granite slabs, concrete, asphalt, brick, block, and other building materials. They are available in a wide range of diameters, from small to large, and especially dominate the 12" diameter and larger market.

What are Continuous Rim Diamond Blades?

The Continuous Rim blade is most commonly a wet-cut blade but can also be a dry-cut blade. Using water when cutting has several advantages: it significantly cools down the blade, extends its life, flushes out debris to reduce friction, and reduces dust buildup, which can decrease the tool's lifespan. The continuous rim cuts the slowest among the different types of diamond saw blades, but it produces the cleanest cut, making it favored for tile cutting.

Continuous rim blades are softer bond blades used for cutting hard materials like tile, porcelain, granite, stone, glass, and other materials that may chip easily.

These blades are typically available in diameters ranging from 4" to 14". Smaller 4" to 5" diameter blades are often used with handheld grinders, while larger blades are used with circular saws and tile saws.

Factors Relevant to Diamond Blades

The Hardness of The Bond

Segmented and continuous diamond blades both use powdered metals to hold the diamonds in place. The bond strength determines the rate at which the diamonds are exposed as the blade is used. Bond strengths can be soft, medium, or hard, with softer bonds exposing diamonds more quickly.

The bond strength is one of the key factors in determining what material the diamond blade is designed to cut.

However, using a blade with a bond strength that is too hard for the material will result in much slower cutting speeds and require more frequent blade dressings to expose the next diamond layer and maintain the blade's cutting capabilities. Eventually, the blade may glaze as it stops cutting altogether.

• Soft-bonded Blades: For cutting hard, dense materials, a diamond blade with a softer bond is ideal because new diamonds are more easily exposed, allowing better cutting performance. For example, when cutting porcelain tile, a soft-bond blade will enable new diamonds to be more readily exposed while maintaining optimum cutting performance.

• Hard-bonded Blades: Softer or porous materials like asphalt, green concrete, and sandstone tend to be more abrasive, wearing out soft-bonded blades more quickly. Hard-bonded diamond blades can withstand the abrasiveness of soft materials, proving to be more durable and long-lasting.

Grit Size of Diamond

The diamond grit size significantly affects the cutting quality of the blade. The surface finish, smoothness, and amount of chipping are influenced by the diamond grit size. For smoother cuts, a finer diamond grit size is suitable, while a coarser diamond grit results in a rougher cut. Coarse diamond grits are often used when a smooth finish and minimal chipping are not a priority.

Diamond Concentration

Diamond concentration impacts the cutting efficiency of diamond blades. The bond type and diamond grit size both affect diamond concentration. Having an appropriate diamond concentration ensures maximum use of the diamonds and bond. High diamond concentrations for the material being cut may cause diamonds to fall off the blade prematurely. Conversely, low diamond concentration can reduce cutting proficiency.

Diamond concentration typically ranges from 25% to 75%. Generally, as diamond concentration increases, the blade's cutting efficiency and sharpness decrease. Higher diamond concentrations will reduce the impact of each diamond particle, decreasing cutting efficiency but extending the blade's life.

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