Dicing saw blade positioning apparatus and methods independent of blade thickness via constrained biasing elements

A ganged dicing saw, comprising:

• at least two shaped flanges, each shaped flange including a support member that extends substantially radially and a spacer member that extends substantially axially for at least partially spacing an adjacent radially extending surface of said support member of one of said at least two shaped flanges a fixed distance apart from a corresponding radially extending surface of said support member of another of said at least two shaped flanges;
• at least two retention element, each retention element positioned on said spacer member of a corresponding shaped flange of said at least two shaped flanges;
• at least two dicing saw blades, each saw blade positioned on said spacer member of one of said at least two shaped flanges, between said support member and said retention element of said corresponding shaped flange;
• and
• at least one biasing element located adjacent at least one retention element of said at least two retention elements, opposite one dicing saw blade of said at least two dicing saw blades to bias said at least one retention element against said one dicing saw blade.

A method for fixing distances between ganged saw blades, comprising:

• assembling at least two shaped flanges onto a spindle of a ganged dicing saw, each shaped flange including a spacer member that extends substantially axially relative to said spindle and a support member that extends substantially radially relative to said spindle;
• placing a dicing saw blade onto said spacer member of each shaped flange;
• placing a retaining element onto said spacer member of each shaped flange, said dicing saw blade being positioned between said retaining element and said spacer member;
• positioning at least one biasing element adjacent at least one retaining element, opposite a corresponding dicing saw blade;
• forcing said at least two shaped flanges axially toward one another along said spindle, a distance between support members of said at least two shaped flanges being at least partially defined by said at least two shaped flanges, said forcing at least partially compressing said at least one biasing element to bias said at least one retaining element against said corresponding dicing saw blade and securing said corresponding dicing saw blade between said at least one retaining element and said corresponding dicing saw blade;
• and
• securing at least said at least two shaped flanges into position along said spindle.