Multidirectional cutting tool in a punch press environment

A turret punch press having rotatable first and second turrets and adaptable to cut workpieces, comprising:

• at least one first cutting means rotatably mounted to said first turret;
• at least one second cutting means for mating with said first cutting means rotatably mounted to said second turret;
• means for driving said first cutting means to mate with said second cutting means and to maintain said first and second cutting means in relative mated position with each other to cut a workpiece placed between said first and second cutting means;
• and
• means for synchronously rotating said first and second cutting means to different orientations so that a continuous multidirectional cut may be effected on said workpiece by said first and second cutting means in said relative mated position.

A turret punch press having rotatable first and second turrets and adaptable to cut workpieces, comprising:

• at least one first cutting means rotatably mounted to said first turret;
• at least one second cutting means for mating with said first cutting means rotatably mounted to said second turret;
• means for driving said first cutting means to mate with said second cutting means and to maintain said first and second cutting means in relative mated position with each other to cut a workpiece placed between said first and second cutting means;
• and
• means for synchronously rotating said first and second cutting means to different orientations so that a continuous multidirectional cut may be effected on said workpiece by said first and second cutting means in said relative mated position;
• wherein said first cutting means comprises
• a cutting wheel having a cutting edge rotatable orthogonally to the plane of said workpiece;
• wherein said second cutting means comprises
• a die having a grooved edge for cooperating with said cutting edge of said cutting wheel to effect cutting.

A turret punch press having at least one punch tool and one corresponding die for punching holes in workpieces, comprising:

• at least one first blade means having a cut edge rotatably mounted to a first support to which either one of said punch tool and die is mounted at a work station;
• at least one second blade means having a cut edge for slidably mating with the cut edge of said first blade means rotatably mounted to as second support opposing said first support at said work station to which the other of said punch tool and die is mounted;
• means for driving said first blade means toward said second blade means such that the respective cut edges of said first and second blade means slide pass each other to cut a workpiece placed between said first and second blade means;
• and
• means for synchronously rotating said first sand second blade means to different orientations so that a continuous multidirectional cut may be effected on said workpiece.

In a turret punch press having at least one punch tool and one corresponding die for punching holes in workpieces, a method of effecting cuts on said workpieces, comprising the steps of:

• (a) rotatably mounting to a first support of said punch press to which said one punch tool is mounted at least one first blade means having a cut edge;
• (b) rotatably mounting to a second support of said punch press opposed to said first support to which said corresponding die is mounted at least one second blade means having a cut edge for slidably mating with the cut edge of said first blade means;
• (c) driving said first blade means toward said second blade means such that the respective cut edges of said first and second blade means slide pass each other to cut a workpiece placed between said first and second blade means;
• and
• (d) synchronously rotating said first and second blade means to different orientations so that a continuous multidirectional cut may be effected on said workpiece.

In a work station having a first support and a second support between which at least one workpiece to be worked on is positioned, a method of cutting said workpiece comprising the steps of:

• (a) rotatably mounting to one of said supports at least one cutting means;
• (b) rotatably mounting to the other of said supports at least one die means for mating with said cutting means;
• (c) moving and maintaining said cutting means and said die means matingly relative toward each other to cut said workpiece;
• and
• (d) synchronously rotating said matingly maintained cutting and die means so that a continuous cut of different orientations on said workpiece may be effected.