The use of carbide- or cermet-tipped thin-kerf metal circular saws allows for high feed rates, low machining forces and thin saw kerfs—all of which reduces energy consumption and saves resources, according to Vollmer of America, which specializes in grinding and erosion machines, and develops sharpening machines such as the CM 200/300 and the CMF 200/300.

The production of thin-kerf metal circular saws presents manufacturers with significant challenges in terms of precision and stiffness, however. Not only must different cutting materials, such as carbides or cermet, be sharpened, but a variety of cutting geometries must also be machined, depending on the application. Vollmer has developed various sharpening machines, such as the CM 200/300 and the CMF 200/300, specially for sharpening these kinds of circular saws. These two machines can be used to machine the hook and clearance angles, as well as the sides of the teeth. The fixed grinding unit and the solid construction of the CM and CMF series permit a high level of stiffness to be achieved for precision grinding. As a result, saw manufacturers can attain an optimized surface finish and dimensional accuracy for circular saws. Set-up and measurement compensation are automatic on Vollmer's sharpening machines, which provides a high level of process stability.

Thanks to the nine CNC-controlled axes, carbide-tipped thin-kerf metal circular saws can be sharpened without having to be clamped in more than one position. The handling system and loading carriage together allow machining to continue unsupervised around the clock.