Device for trimming coaxial cable

A device for removing successive stepwise cylindrical portions of insulation from a cable, said cable including a center conductor disposed upon a longitudinal axis and at least one insulation layer coaxially surrounding said center conductor, said device comprising:

• a first cutter including cutting blade for creating a circumferential cut in at least one insulation layer in a plane substantially orthogonal to said longitudinal axis, said cutting blade comprising a knife blade,
• a first guide means for guiding the cutting blade, said first guide means comprising at least one guide tool, each guide tool having a first end, each guide tool having a cylindrical bore of preselected distance from the first end disposed therewithin for accepting the cable, each guide tool having at least one slot of preselected depth for accepting the cutting blade, each guide tool being rotatable circumferentially about the cable when inserted into each bore;
• at least a second cutter including cylindrical cutting means for creating a cylindrical cut in at least one insulation layer coaxially surrounding the center conductor in an axial direction to said circumferential cut, each cylindrical cutting means having a cylindrical bore disposed therewithin for passage of a portion of said cable therethrough, each cylindrical cutting means comprising a cylindrical cutting tool having a cutting end, each cutting tool having a cutting edge at the cutting end;
• and
• a main body comprising a fixturing means for securing the cable in a substantially stationary position and a second guide means for guiding each cylindrical cutting means, said fixturing means comprising a fixturing body attached to the main body and at least one clamp removably attached to the fixturing body, said fixturing body having a length, said fixturing body having a recess throughout its length for accepting the cable, said second means comprising a guide body attached to the main body, said guide body having a length, said guide body having a bore throughout its length for accepting each cylindrical cutting means.

A device for removing successive stepwise cylindrical portions of insulation from a cable, said cable including a center conductor disposed upon a longitudinal axis and at least one insulation layer coaxially surrounding said center conductor, said device comprising:

• a first cutter including a cutting blade for creating a circumferential cut in at least one insulation layer in a plane substantially orthogonal to said longitudinal axis, said cutting blade comprising a knife blade;
• a first guide means for guiding the cutting blade, said first guide means comprising at least one guide tool, each guide tool having a first end, each guide tool having a cylindrical bore of preselected distance from the first end disposed therewithin for accepting the cable, each guide tool having at least one slot of preselected depth for accepting the cutting blade, said cable being rotatable circumferentially within each guide tool when the cable is inserted into each bore;
• at least a second cutter including a cylindrical cutting means for creating a cylindrical cut in at least one insulation layer coaxially surrounding the center conductor in an axial direction to said circumferential cut, each cylindrical cutting means having a cylindrical bore disposed therewithin for passage of a portion of said cable therethrough, each cylindrical cutting means comprising a cylindrical cutting tool having a cutting end, each cutting tool having a cutting edge at the cutting end;
• and
• a main body comprising a fixturing means for securing the cable in a substantially stationary position and a second guide means for guiding each cylindrical cutting means, said fixturing means comprising a fixturing body attached to the main body and at least one clamp removably attached to the fixturing body, said fixturing body having a length, said fixturing body having a recess throughout its length for accepting the cable, said second guide means comprising a guide body attached to the main body, said guide body having a length, said guide body having a bore throughout its length for accepting each cylindrical cutting means.

A method for trimming insulation from a cable, said cable including at least a center conductor and at least, one insulation layer, such method comprising the steps of:

• positioning a first guide means upon the cable;
• inserting a first cutter including a cutting blade into the first guide means;
• rotating the cutting blade circumferentially about the cable, thereby creating a circumferential cut in the cable insulation;
• securing the cable in a substantially stationary position, thereby exposing the connecting end of said cable for cutting;
• and
• forcing at least a second cutter including a cylindrical cutting means in an axial direction through the insulation to the circumferential cut, thereby cutting at least one cylindrical portion of at least one insulation layer from the cable.