Erasable Pencil Marks for Band Saw Angle Setup
Mark 90 degrees and the current job pitch so the saw can return to the right position with a visible, erasable reference.
- Creator
TheAMEConnect- Improvement date
- June 16, 2024
- Company
Southwest Steel Buildings- Wastes
The band saw must be returned accurately to 90 degrees and then set to the pitch required for each job. Without a clear reference, operators can lose the correct setting, create angle errors, and wait while the saw is repositioned.
The team used the saw laser as the pointer, drew a pencil mark at 90 degrees, and added another pencil mark for the current job pitch. The job pitch mark can be erased and replaced for the next job.
Make proven setup positions visible and reusable at the point of use.
What is a Erasable Pencil Marks for Band Saw Angle Setup?
An erasable pencil mark setup aid is a simple visual reference drawn on or near the adjustment area of a machine. In this case, one pencil mark identifies the 90 degree position on the band saw, and a second pencil mark identifies the pitch for the current job.
The laser guide on the saw gives the operator a repeatable pointer. Instead of relying on memory or reworking the setup from scratch, the operator aligns the laser to the correct pencil mark.
The pitch mark is temporary. When the next job needs a different pitch, the old mark is erased and a new one is added, while the 90 degree reference remains available.
Why it works
The improvement captures known good setup knowledge in a visible form, so people can reuse the correct position instead of solving the same angle problem again.
- Adds value by helping the next cut start from a known setup position.
- Reuses knowledge by keeping the 90 degree reference and the current job pitch visible at the saw.
- Mistake-proofs setup by giving the laser a clear target instead of relying on memory or guesswork.
- Prevents stale information because the job pitch mark can be erased when the job changes.
Evidence: The transcript says the team put a pencil mark at 90 degrees and another at the job pitch, and that the job pitch mark can be erased for the next job. It also says a pencil mark could save the cost of a $35,000 band saw.
How to create this idea
- 1Confirm the home setting
Set the saw accurately to 90 degrees using the normal verification method. Do not mark the reference until the position is trusted.
- 2Mark 90 degrees
Draw a clear pencil mark at the alignment point for the 90 degree position. Place it where the operator can see it during setup.
- 3Set the job pitch
Adjust the saw to the pitch required for the current job. Add a second pencil mark for that job setting.
- 4Align with the laser
Use the saw laser as the pointer when returning to 90 degrees or to the current pitch. The mark makes the correct position visible.
- 5Erase and update
When the job changes, erase the old pitch mark and draw the new one. Keep only useful current references on the machine.
Best used when
- manual angle setup
- changing job pitch
- returning to 90 degrees
- shared saws
Less useful when
- fixed angle cutting
- digital angle control
- dirty mark surface
- unverified reference
Products and tools mentioned
- Band saw: Continuous blade saw for cutting wood, metal, or plastic stock.
- Laser guide: Used as the pointer that aligns with the pencil marks.
- Pencil: Used to draw erasable marks for 90 degrees and the current job pitch.
Tags
- Problem
- angle errorssetup delaydefects
- Lean methods
- visual managementmistake proofingknowledge reuse
- Application
- band sawmachine setupcutting
Captured from TheAMEConnect at Southwest Steel Buildings in the video "AME 2 Second Lean Tour: Southwest Steel Buildings", at 00:28:41. On Lean Toolbox. Watch the original video on YouTube ↗
