Cutter and a base cut assembly

A cutter for a base cut assembly applied to a sugar-cane harvesting machine, the cutter comprising:

• a table;
• an axle;
• a base cut disc;
• a single-piece support rod positioned between the table and base cut disc and behind the base cut assembly;
• and
• an actuator positioned between the table and the base cut disc,
• wherein:
• the support rod comprises a first portion having a first longitudinal axis and a second portion having a second longitudinal axis, the first and second longitudinal axes being parallel and spaced apart relative to one another such that the first and second portions of the support rod are likewise parallel and spaced apart relative to one another,
• the first portion is arranged opposite the base cut disc,
• the second portion extends beyond the base cut disc,
• the first and second portions of the support rod simultaneously provide a direct interface between the first and second portions of the support rod and the axle, said direct interface being provided respectively by first roller bearing and second roller bearing,
• the support rod further comprises, in its second portion, a stroke-end sensor configured to generate input data;
• and
• the actuator is configured, via a control unit and based upon the input data from the stroke-end sensor, to automatically command the rise and fall of the base cut assembly.