Bantam twin pipe notcher

A bantam twin pipe notcher for notching the ends of two different size pipes or tubes without interchanging a tool and die combination, comprising:

• a base plate;
• a first side die holder and a second side die holder forming two vertical parallel die holders, the vertical parallel die holders being a predetermined distance apart;
• the first side die holder and the second side die holder, each having a vertical recessed intermediate portion extending from a bottom edge of each die holder to a top edge, the vertical recessed intermediate portions oriented so as to face each other, the vertical intermediate portions within each die holder for receiving a first die block and a second die block;
• the first side die holder and the second side die holder, each further including a horizontal groove across a top surface of each die holder, the grooves being configured to rest a pipe or tube to be cut;
• fastening means for securing the vertical parallel die holders to the base plate;
• alignment means for aligning the base plate and vertical parallel die holders to a press;
• a punch holder, the punch holder being a rectangular-shaped plate having a first vertical side and a second vertical side with a horizontal cylindrical hole therethrough;
• the punch holder having a first vertical bore therethrough near each outside edge of the punch holder and a second concentric larger vertical bore extending from a bottom surface of the punch holder to a predetermined distance within the punch holder;
• the base plate further including a vertical bore therethrough aligned with each of the first vertical bores near each outside edge of the punch holder;
• a guide pin in close fit cooperative engagement with and inserted within each first vertical bore of the punch holder, the guide pin extending from each vertical bore in the punch holder aligned with the respective vertical bore in the base plate, the guide pin being pressed fit into said base plate vertical bore;
• the guide pin further being inserted through a concentric compression spring, the spring being inserted within the second concentric larger vertical bore in the punch holder;
• a first end of said spring being compressed against an edge formed between the first vertical bore and the second concentric vertical bore and a second end of said spring extending a predetermined distance below the bottom surface of the punch holder and being compressed against a top surface of the base plate;
• means for aligning and restricting a travel of the punch holder with the guide pins;
• a punch having a first portion, an intermediate portion and a second portion, the intermediate portion being cylindrical-shaped and inserted within the horizontal cylindrical hole in the punch holder;
• means for fastening the intermediate portion of the punch within the punch holder;
• the first and second portions of the punch further including cutting edges adapted to enter the pipe or tube interior through an end of the pipe or tube to be notched;
• the cutting edge included in the first portion of the punch and the cutting edge included in the second portion of the punch are shaped differently to notch two differently shaped notches on the ends of two different pipes or tubes without interchanging the tool and die combination;
• the first die block and the second die block, each resting on the base plate, one side of each die block protruding within respective vertical intermediate portions of the first and second side die holders and a second side of each die block being adjacent respective first and second vertical sides of the punch holder;
• each die block having a horizontal groove extending across a top surface of said die blocks, each groove being configured to rest the pipe or the tube to be cut, each die block further having a vertical notch in the second side of said die blocks adapted to receive the cutting edge of said punch;
• and
• means for fastening the die blocks to the die holder.