Cutting apparatus and method for forming cylindrical, conical, and/or annular stock materials

A cutting apparatus, comprising:

• a workpiece support assembly, said workpiece support assembly configured to hold a workpiece in position by means of at least one rotational attachment point, said workpiece support assembly allowing generally a single degree of freedom rotation while said workpiece is being cut, and said workpiece support assembly generally fixing said workpiece in the other directions of movement during the cutting thereof, said workpiece support assembly including at least one vertically extending support member connected to a base frame, and said at least one rotational attachment point including a rotational attachment point coupled to said at least one vertically extending support member;
• and
• a cutting assembly having a linearly displaceable cutting blade, said linearly displaceable cutting blade being disposed in a generally horizontal direction, said cutting assembly being spaced apart from said at least one vertically extending support member of said workpiece support assembly, said linearly displaceable cutting blade configured to initially form a straight tangential cut into said workpiece, and thereafter circumferentially cut a portion of material from said workpiece, said cutting assembly configured to be displaced relative to said workpiece support assembly during the forming of said straight tangential cut;
• and
• a swing arm assembly coupled to said base frame of said workpiece support assembly, said swing arm assembly configured to support said portion of material circumferentially cut from said workpiece after said cut portion of material has been removed from said workpiece, said cut portion of material configured to be slid onto a portion of said swing arm assembly after the cut has been completed;
• wherein said at least one vertically extending support member comprises a tailstock assembly, and wherein said at least one rotational attachment point includes a rotational attachment point disposed on said tailstock assembly;
• wherein a lower section of said tailstock assembly is rotatably coupled to said base frame of said workpiece support assembly;
• and
• wherein said swing arm assembly is configured to detachably engage with said tailstock assembly so as to facilitate the sliding of said cut portion of material from said workpiece to said swing arm assembly.