Cutting tool for cable with a metal shield

A tool for cutting a metal shield of a cable, the cable having a core containing a plurality of electrical conductors, the tool comprising:

• a base including a cutting platform, the cutting platform being configured to engage an outer surface of the cable;
• a cutting blade mounted for movement relative to the cutting platform between a first position spaced from the cutting platform and a second position at which the cutting blade extends past the cutting platform, the cutting blade defining a cutting plane when at the second position;
• a drive mechanism operatively connected to the cutting blade;
• and
• a fixture for supporting the cable in a desired orientation, the fixture including first and second spaced apart rollers, a pair of spaced apart first surfaces of each of the first and second rollers defining a ring cut nest extending between the first surfaces to support and engage the cable for a ring cut, and a pair of spaced apart second surfaces of each of the first and second rollers defining a slitting nest extending between the second surfaces to support and engage the cable for a slitting cut, the ring cut and the slitting cut being generally perpendicular to each other, the base being pivotably secured to the fixture to permit the base and the fixture to pivot relative to each other about a pivot axis between a loading position and a cutting position, the pivot axis spaced from and parallel to the cutting plane, wherein at the loading position both the ring cut nest and the slitting nest are spaced from the cutting plane and allow the cable to be loaded into either the ring cut nest or the slitting nest, and at the cutting position both the ring cut nest and the slitting nest intersect with the cutting plane.