Heated tool for cutting and sealing meltable material

A method for cutting a substrate comprised of a material having a melt temperature, the method comprising:

• providing a tool comprising:
• a blade comprising a cutting tip at a distal end of the blade and at least one shoulder disposed on one side of and proximal the cutting tip, the cutting tip and the at least one shoulder positioned relative to one another such that with the blade positioned relative to the substrate with the cutting tip pentrating a thickness of the substrate, at least a portion of the at least one shoulder is in contact with at least one cut edge of the substrate created by the penetrating of the thickness by the cutting tip;
• and
• an induction coil configured to heat the at least one shoulder to a temperature selected relative to the mely temperature to cause the portion of the at least one shoulder in contact with the cut edge of the substrate to seal the cut edge;
• heating the blade, using the induction coil, to the selected temperature;
• penetrating the substrate with the cutting tip such that the portion of the at least one shoulder is in contact with the substrate;
• imparting relative motion between the blade and the substrate;
• and
• sealing the cut edge of the substrate with the at least one shoulder along a cut line defined by the relative motion.

A tool for cutting a substrate comprised of a material having a melt temperature, the tool comprising:

• a rotary blade comprising a cutting tip at a distal end of the rotary blade and at least one shoulder disposed on one side of and proximal the cutting tip, the cutting tip and the at least one shoulder positioned relative to one another such that with the rotary blade positioned relative to the substrate with the cutting tip penetrating a thickness of the substrate, at least a portion of the at least one shoulder is in contact with at least one cut edge of the substrate created by the penetrating of the thickness by the cutting tip, the rotary blade being mounted on a tool head;
• a motor and transmission system configured to rotate the rotary blade;
• means for rotating the tool head on an axis perpendicular to an axis of rotation of the rotary blade;
• and
• a heater configured to heat the at least one shoulder to a temperature selected relative to the melt temperature to cause the portion of the at least one shoulder in contact with the cut edge of the substrate to seal the cut edge.