Coping apparatus and method of operation

A coping apparatus for coping a strip of molding, the strip of molding having an arbitrary non-linear profile as traced along an outer surface of the molding when viewed in cross-section, the coping apparatus comprising:

• a die configured with a die mounting surface, a die face parallel to the mounting surface, a die top surface extending from the die mounting surface to the die cutting surface, and a die cutting edge along the die top surface where said die cutting edge intersects the die cutting surface;
• the die face further comprising a negative arbitrary non-linear profile as viewed in cross-section;
• a base form configured for receiving the die mounting surface and adjustably mounting the die in a fixed position, the base form further configured for receiving and supporting an inner surface of an end of the strip of molding to be coped, the end of the strip of molding supported above and extended over the die;
• a blade configured with a blade mounting surface, a blade face parallel to the blade mounting surface, a blade bottom surface extending between the blade mounting surface and the blade cutting surface, and a blade cutting edge along the blade bottom surface where said blade cutting edge intersects the blade cutting surface;
• the blade face further comprising the arbitrary non-linear profile of the strip of molding as viewed in cross-section;
• a cutter assembly configured for receiving the blade mounting surface and for mounting the blade such that the blade face is configured to pass flush against the die face during a coping operation;
• and
• a shearing mechanism mounted to the base form and the cutter assembly, the shearing mechanism configured to selectively cause the blade cutting edge to approach the outside surface of end of the strip of molding with long axis perpendicular to the die and blade faces, thereby causing the blade cutting edge to pass through the end of the strip of molding and blade face to pass flush against the die face during the coping operation, thereby imparting the arbitrary non-linear profile to the end of the strip of molding and forming a coped end in the strip of molding.