Positioner and cutting apparatus

A computerized positioning and cutting apparatus for automatically cutting structural parts to discrete lengths with a minimum amount of scrap for a given project, the apparatus comprising:

• a frame;
• a positioning trough supported by the frame;
• a magazine mounted to the frame sized to receive predetermined lengths of the structural parts to be selectively fed to the positioning trough;
• a drive system mounted to the frame and operatively connected to a positioning system for selectively positioning the structural parts in the trough to be cut;
• a cutter mounted on the frame to cut the structural parts as the positioning system feeds the structural parts in selective discrete lengths through the trough;
• and
• a controller having an associated computer system in electrical communication with the drive system and the cutter;
• wherein the associated computer system calculates the optimum number of cuts per a predetermined quantity of the structural parts to produce a minimum amount of scrap structural parts for the project.

A computerized positioning and cutting apparatus for automatically cutting conduit to discrete lengths with a minimum amount of scrap to meet internal reinforcement requirement of HVAC ducting for a given HVAC project, the cutting apparatus comprising:

• a frame;
• a positioning trough supported by the frame;
• a plurality of magazines mounted to the frame along the length of the trough sized to receive predetermined lengths of the conduit to be selectively fed to the positioning trough;
• a drive system mounted to the frame and operatively connected to a positioning system for selectively positioning the conduit in the trough to be cut;
• a cutter mounted on the frame to cut the conduit as the positioning system feeds the conduit in selective discrete lengths through the trough;
• and
• a controller having an associated computer system in electrical communication with the drive system and the cutter;
• wherein the associated computer system calculates the optimum number of cuts per a predetermined quantity of the conduit to produce a minimum amount of scrap conduit for the project.