Diamond Disc Anatomy

This is a really simplified diagram to explain the basic anatomy of a diamond disc

I know you all know what a diamond disc looks like but I just wanted to share this anyway. Hopefully somebody out there learns something from it.

Diamond discs anatomy – Gullets

The Gullets on a diamond disc are specially designed so that the dust which gathers while using the discs, flows away. This keeps spaces clear for air to flow around the blade and keep it cool. Different shapes and sizes of gullets have different affects on the way the diamond disc performs.

Diamond discs anatomy – Core

The Core is the main body of the blade and it needs to be strong enough to stay straight while the blade spins and heats up. Diamond discs heat up while they are spinning because they spin at very high speeds. The cores are designed to prevent the discs warping or cracking as a result of the effects of this heat.

Diamond discs anatomy – Arbor

The Arbor is the thicker part immediately around the hole in the centre of the disc. However, most people today refer to the hole itself as the arbor. This is mainly because modern methods make the discs stronger all the way across. You will notice that in some blades the edge around the centre hole is thicker. This is another safety feature to make sure that the blade keeps it’s shape and doesn’t warp or crack because of the speed and heat the disc experiences while in use.

Diamond discs anatomy – Segments

The Segments are the cutting teeth around the outer edge of the blades. These are different depending on the design of the blade and what materials the blade is cutting. Different materials need different shapes and sizes of segments. You will notice that discs for cutting porcelain are different to those cutting concrete.

Diamond discs anatomy – Directional Arrow

The Directional Arrow is a very important safety instruction. Every disc that meets the safety requirements has a directional arrow on it. These are to make certain that the discs are put onto the machines correctly. It shows the direction that the disc should spin in. If the disc doesn’t spin that direction, the blade is on incorrectly and is, potentially, incredibly dangerous. Very experienced users of diamond discs can sharpen a disc by cutting with it on backwards, but this is not recommended as it is very dangerous.