Apparatus, system, and method for cutting tubes

A tube cutter, comprising:

• means for clamping a tube in a first direction;
• means for scarf cutting the tube in a second direction that is transverse to the first direction;
• means for cutting off the tube in the first direction;
• wherein the means for cutting off the tube comprises the scarf blade and the cut-off blade.

A tube cutting machine, comprising:

• a machine base and a frame connected to the base, the machine base and frame forming a C-frame;
• a lower arcuate jaw supported on the machine base;
• at least a first elongate rail supported on the frame;
• an upper arcuate jaw movably supported on the frame by a jaw block that is supported on the first elongate rail, the upper arcuate jaw being movable relative to the lower arcuate jaw and configured for clamping engagement of a work piece between the arcuate jaws;
• a first driver coupled to the upper arcuate jaw for urging the upper arcuate jaw toward the lower arcuate jaw in a closing direction, and away from the first arcuate jaw in an opening direction;
• at least a second elongate rail in the jaw block, the second elongate rail disposed in the jaw block transversely to the first elongate rail;
• a cut-off blade supported on the first elongate rail for movement along a length of the first elongate rail, the cut-off blade having a shearing edge extending at an angle of approximately twenty-two and a half degrees relative to the opening direction and a punching tip that has a punching edge extending from a distal end of the shearing edge at an angle greater than or equal to the angle of the shearing edge relative to the opening direction;
• a second driver coupled to the first cut-off blade for urging the first cut-off blade past the upper and lower arcuate jaws in a direction substantially parallel to the closing direction;
• an elongate scarf blade having a piercing tip at one longitudinal end, the elongate scarf blade being supported on the second elongate rail for movement along a length of the second elongate rail in a second direction transverse to the opening and closing directions;
• and
• a third motive member coupled to the scarf blade for urging the scarf blade past the upper arcuate jaw for cutting a notch in a work piece to a depth of a square circumscribed in the upper and lower arcuate jaws.

A tube cutting system, comprising:

• a machine base and a frame supported on the machine base;
• a lower jaw supported on the base;
• a first elongate rail supported on the frame;
• an upper jaw supported on the first elongate rail, the upper jaw being movable along the first elongate rail relative to the lower jaw and adapted for clamping engagement of a work piece between the upper and lower jaws;
• a jaw driver coupled to the upper jaw for urging the upper jaw toward the lower jaw in a first closing direction;
• a cut-off blade supported on the first elongate rail for movement along a length of the first elongate rail;
• a cut-off blade driver coupled to the cut-off blade for urging the cut-off blade along the first elongate rail;
• a second elongate rail supported on the frame in a relatively transverse relation to the first elongate rail;
• a scarf blade supported on the second elongate rail for movement along a length of the second elongate rail in a second direction transverse to the first closing direction;
• a scarf blade driver coupled to the scarf blade for urging the scarf blade in the second direction;
• and
• a controller operatively connected to each of the drivers, the controller configured to move the upper jaw, the cut-off blade, and the scarf blade by way of the drivers in a coordinated manner.

A method of cutting a tube, comprising:

• clamping a tube in a first direction;
• scarf cutting the tube in a second direction transverse to the first direction;
• and
• cutting off the tube in the first direction;
• wherein cutting off the tube comprises inserting a cut-off blade in an opening of the tube formed by the scarf blade during the step of scarf cutting.