Machine for mass production cutting of tubes

Abstract

A simple, economical, drum-type tube cutting machine is disclosed which employs a conventional drum for high-speed automatic cutting of ordinary tubes and a special drum for high speed cutting of tubing which could not otherwise be cut satisfactorily because of special problems due for example to flimsy walls, excessive diameter or excessive wall thickness. The special drum employs a series of replaceable generally semi-cylindrical vanes which fit the tubes to prevent them from collapsing or moving out of position during the cutting operation and to hold them in position after they are cut so that internal supporting mandrels are not needed. The internal radius of the vanes is selected to match the external radius of the tubes being cut and is changed when the tube radius is changed. The machine is constructed to deliver the tubes one at a time from a feed ramp without an auxiliary escapement mechanism and to effect high-speed gang cutting using a conventional endless-band arrangement to rotate the tubes during cutting. The invention makes it possible to use existing machines which are modified to receive the special drum and to mass produce tubular pieces of many different diameters in a safe, reliable continuous manner at rates of production much higher than can be achieved when using mandrels. High rates of production can also be obtained even when the tubes to be cut are dented or deformed.