The presented test rig controls the quality of saw blades. It also determines the ideal cutting parameters (force/feed, cutting angle ...) as well as the change in cutting behavior (sharpness, transverse forces) over the service life of the blade.

Three saw types are tested: Saber/reciprocating saw, jigsaw and hole saw. Work is performed in three motion modes: constant feed (speed control), constant force (force control) and constant force with transverse force compensation.

The test bench consists of

• an ABB industrial robot with force-torque sensor
• a manual quick-change system for changing saws
• two feeders
• a laser light barrier for position and angle correction

The robot position, the recorded forces and, if applicable, moments are displayed in "live" view in diagram form (force over time, force over displacement, position over time). Test evaluation and comparison with previously recorded test series are displayed in table and diagram form.