How does a Chainsaw Chain cut when it is working?

The cutting process of the Chainsaw Chain when the chain saw is working is based on the physical shearing principle and power transmission. The specific operation steps can be divided into the following main links:

Chain movement and power transmission
The power of the chain saw comes from the engine or electric motor, which transmits the power to the chain through the chain drive system (usually sprockets and sprocket wheels). When the chain saw is started, the power of the engine is transmitted to the drive wheel of the chain through the gears, driving the chain to rotate around the chain guide at high speed.

Contact between chain and wood
Each section of the chain will have multiple teeth, and these teeth (also called blades) come into contact with the surface of the wood according to the designed angle and shape. When the chain starts to rotate, the teeth cut into the surface of the wood at high speed. The angle design of the teeth enables it to generate shear force and split the wood into small pieces.

Cutting principle

Each tooth has a specific geometry, including a front knife, a side knife and a scraper (some designs also have a scraper with chip cleaning function). The front edge of the saw tooth has a cutting angle, which enables the chain to cut into the wood with less force. When the chain rotates at high speed, the saw teeth are gradually pressed by the wood and cut into it, similar to the principle of a hand saw, and the wood is gradually separated through continuous pressure and friction.

Front knife: responsible for cutting the surface of the wood and performing preliminary cutting work.

Side knife: helps to continue to split the wood and ensure that the wood chips can be quickly cleaned out.

Scraper/chip cleaner: ensure that the cut wood chips can be effectively cleaned during the cutting process to avoid wood chips accumulation and affect the smooth operation of the chain.

Cutting depth and speed control

The cutting depth of the chain is mainly determined by the height of the saw teeth and the working pressure. The rotation speed of the chain directly affects the cutting speed. Generally speaking, the higher the speed of the chain, the higher the cutting efficiency. However, too high a speed may also cause excessive wear of the chain or excessive power consumption. Therefore, the design of the chain saw will adjust the appropriate speed according to its intended use.

Eliminating wood chips and heat management

During the cutting process, the saw teeth will generate a certain amount of friction, which will generate heat on the chain and the wood surface. In order to avoid overheating and chain wear, chain saws are usually equipped with an automatic lubrication system to spray lubricating oil on the chain regularly to reduce friction. At the same time, when the chain is cut through the teeth, wood chips will be generated. The scraper with chip cleaning function in the chain design can help remove the wood chips and ensure the smoothness of the cutting process.

Stability during cutting
The stability of the chain is closely related to the tension. If the chain is too loose or too tight, it will affect the cutting effect of the chain. A loose chain may fall off or produce unstable vibrations, while an overly tight chain may increase wear and energy consumption, and may even cause the chain to get stuck. Therefore, the adjustment of chain tension is essential for the normal operation of the chain saw.

When the chain saw is working, the chain is cut by the high-speed rotating teeth contacting and pressuring the wood surface to generate shear force to split the wood into small pieces. Each saw tooth is designed to provide the most effective cutting, and the chip cleaner and lubrication system ensure a smooth cutting process.