Non-shorting cable coring tool

A coring tool for coring a coaxial cable having an axially extending cylindrical central conductor, a generally cylindrical dielectric core coaxially surrounding the central conductor, and a generally cylindrical tubular outer conductor coaxially surrounding the dielectric core, said coring tool comprising:

• a tool holder;
• and
• an axially elongated cutter bit mounted to and projecting axially outwardly from said tool holder;
• wherein said cutter bit has a forward end and a coaxial cylindrical bore defined by a bore wall, with said bore opening through said forward end, said bore configured to receive an end portion of the central conductor therein, said bore having a diameter greater than the diameter of the central conductor, said cutter bit having a generally cylindrical coring portion proximate said forward end for rotatably drilling out and removing the generally cylindrical dielectric core surrounding the central conductor of the coaxial cable, said coring portion having an outside diameter approximately equal to an inside diameter of the outer conductor;
• and
• wherein said coring portion of said cutter bit is constructed of an electrically conductive metal or alloy as a first part with a non-conductive coating as a second part bonded to an exterior surface of said conductive metal or alloy.

A method of making a cable coring tool for coring a coaxial cable having an axially extending cylindrical central conductor, a generally cylindrical dielectric core coaxially surrounding the central conductor, and a generally cylindrical tubular outer conductor coaxially surrounding the dielectric core, said method comprising:

• providing a tool holder;
• forming an axially elongated cutter bit out of a first part and a second part, wherein the first part is electrically conductive and the second part is nonconductive;
• and
• attaching the cutter bit to the tool holder so that the cutter bit projects axially outwardly from the tool holder, wherein the cutter bit has a forward end and a coaxial cylindrical bore defined by a bore wall, with the bore opening through the forward end, the bore configured to receive an end portion of the central conductor therein, the bore having a diameter greater than the diameter of the central conductor, the cutter bit having a generally cylindrical coring portion proximate the forward end for rotatably drilling out and removing the generally cylindrical dielectric core surrounding the central conductor of the coaxial cable, the coring portion having an outside diameter approximately equal to an inside diameter of the outer conductor, and wherein the coring portion is formed of the first and second parts.