Equipment and processes for making gaskets and washers with adjustable dimensioning and kits directed to the same

An apparatus, comprising a cutting mechanism which includes:

• a body defining a passage extending from a first opening bounded by a rim to a second opening positioned opposite the first opening;
• a cutting head with a first side opposite a second side, the head including a first carrier positioned between the first cutter and the second side and defining a first threaded passage engaged to establish a first repositionable connection of the first cutter a first distance from the axis, a second carrier positioned between the second cutter and the second side and defining a second threaded passage engaged to establish a second repositionable connection of the second cutter a second distance from the axis different than the first distance, and a guideway engaged to at least one of the first carrier and the second carrier with a threaded shaft;
• a plunger including a first plunger end portion connected along the first side of the head opposite a second plunger end portion, the plunger extending through the second opening to position the second plunger end portion external to the body;
• and
• a spring including a first portion contacting the body and the second portion contacting the second plunger end portion, the spring including a stiffness selected to push the plunger and the body away from each other to place the head with the first cutter and the second cutter in a retracted position within the body when at rest and compress in response to manual pushing of the body and the second plunger portion together to move the head into a cutting position with the first cutter and the second cutter at least partially projecting out of the first opening past the rim, the head being structured to rotate with the plunger about a rotational axis in the cutting position and move with the plunger in translation along the axis when changing between the retracted position and the cutting position.

A method of making a gasket or washer, comprising:

• determining an inner radius and an outer radius for at least a portion of the gasket or washer, which includes selecting a suitable solid material from which to prepare the gasket or washer with a cutting mechanism, the cutting mechanism includes a cutting head and a body defining a passage terminating in a first opening, which includes:
• adjusting the cutting mechanism, which includes:
• applying a first fastener interface including a carrier fixed with the first cutter, which includes threading a shaft portion into the threaded passage defined by the carrier to provide a repositionable connection of the carrier with the first cutter along a first track portion along the head, the first track portion being positioned relative to the rotational center of the head;
• applying a second fastener interface including a carrier fixed with the second cutter, which includes threading a threaded shaft portion into the threaded passage defined by the carrier to provide a repositionable connection of the carrier with the second cutter along a second track portion, the second track portion being positioned relative to the rotational center of the cutting head;
• after the applying of the first fastener interface and the applying of the second fastener interface, moving the cutting mechanism into a selected position relative to the material selected to prepare the gasket or washer therefrom;
• bearing down on the cutting mechanism with the first cutter and the second cutter projecting at least partway past the rim of the opening;
• inserting the first cutter and the second cutter into the material;
• and
• while the first cutter and the second cutter are inserted into the material, rotating the cutting head about the rotational center to cut though the material a first desired amount less than one revolution to provide a first cut of the material with a first inner radius and a first outer radius.