🔹 **Electroplated Diamond Blades**
Structure:** Single layer of diamond grit held by nickel electroplating.
Diamond Exposure:** Diamonds protrude sharply from the blade surface (not deeply embedded).
Cutting Speed:**
Very fast at the beginning** because the sharp, exposed diamond edges immediately engage the material.
* Ideal for **precision, thin, or delicate cuts** (glass, ceramics, composites, semiconductors).
Speed can **decline sooner** since once the single layer of diamond wears off, cutting slows down.
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🔹 **Vacuum Brazed Diamond Blades**
* **Structure:** Single layer of diamond grit bonded via high-temperature vacuum brazing, fusing the grit firmly onto the metal body.
* **Diamond Exposure:** More grit is exposed and retained more securely than electroplating.
* **Cutting Speed:**
* Generally **faster and more aggressive** in hard, thick, or tough materials (stone, concrete, metals).
* Brazed grit stays attached longer even under heavy loads, maintaining speed over more cuts.
* Not as precise as electroplated but optimized for **efficiency and durability**.
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⚖️ **Comparison in Simple Terms**
* **Electroplated blade** = **Higher initial speed** + **better precision**, but wears faster.
* **Vacuum brazed blade** = **Consistently fast speed** + **better durability**, especially in demanding materials.
👉 Think of it this way:
* **Electroplated = scalpel** (sharp, fast, delicate).
* **Vacuum brazed = machete** (strong, fast, durable).
