Tube perforating machine

A tube perforating machine for perforating a hollow tube, wherein the machine comprises:

• a. a drive motor;
• b. a punch head powered by the drive motor, wherein the punch head comprises:
• i. an actuator hub comprising an annulus for receiving the tube and also comprising one or more tube perforating sets, each tube perforating set comprising a clamp, a clamp actuator, a punch and a punch actuator, wherein each tube perforating set is housed within an actuator housing located in the actuator hub, and wherein each tube perforating set is able to move between an engaged position in which the clamp presses against the tube when located in the annulus and the punch punches through the tube, and a disengaged position in which the clamp and punch both release contact with the tube;
• ii. a rotating portion comprising an annulus within which the actuator hub is received, wherein the rotating portion is configured to engage and disengage with the clamp actuator and punch actuator to move the clamp and punch between the engaged and disengaged positions;
• c. an axial drive system comprising a carriage on which the tube is mounted;
• and
• d. a timing system powered by the motor and comprising a Geneva mechanism operatively connected to the carriage to move the carriage toward and away from the punch head when each perforating set is in the disengaged position.