TPT July 2015

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Technology News
38 July 2015
Offline tube cutting
OFFLINE tube cutting is a popular value-
added service offered by most tube mills
and tubing distributors. For basic cut-to-
length requirements, some very mature
techniques for tube cutting are enjoying
a revival in popularity.
Vogel Tool & Die is a US manufacturer
of tools used for processing tubular
parts. Now in its 81st year, Vogel
continues to produce a dual blade cut-
off die for stationary recutting of tubes
and pipes. This die-set type tool uses
low cost blades to produce a cut without
deformation and on shorter parts, a
typical length accuracy of ±0.005".
The company reports an increase in
interest and sales of this tool, currently
offered for up to 6" OD and up to 0.25"
wall. Instead of bringing larger and
expensive machines in-house, such as
multi-axis lasers, Vogel’s cutting tools
are designed to be installed into and
operate in a punch press. For companies
with idle presses, this reduces the total
investment significantly.
This ‘old-school’ technology has a
number of financially friendly benefits.
The most popular size tool includes
blades that are under $50 and are easy
to sharpen in house.
Because the tube is simply pushed
through an opening in the tool and an
adjustable stop signals the press to
operate, the skill level of the personnel
assigned to tube cutting will likely be
far below the requirement of those who
perform laser cutting or even bundle
cutting with saws.
Additional savings can be realised
due to Vogel’s equipment producing
a single slug that ejects from the tool.
For companies still saw cutting, this
eliminates chip removal from cut parts.
Eliminating this operation saves
handling time and provides customer
benefits, since the end user will never
find a part that has a few overlooked
chips loose and rattling around inside
their finished goods. When processing
higher value materials such as
aluminium, brass and copper, slug
collection for scrap value is easy and
convenient, increasing total revenue
from each cutting job.
In addition to tube cutting dies, Vogel
manufactures a variety of tube coping
tools, piercing, v-notching and custom-
designed tools for specialised tubular
fabrication projects.
Vogel Tool & Die – USA
Website:
Circular saw blades
50 years’ experience in metal
cutting circular saw blade
production, along with constant
technical cooperation with
pipe producers and machine
manufacturers, enables Stark
to offer the high-performance
Olympic line, fully dedicated to
tube cutting applications.
The range includes three
kinds of blades: HSS circular
saw blades; throw-away TCT
saw blades; and resharpenable
TCT saw blades.
The HSS circular saw blade is an
alternative to TCT saw blades for
tube cutting. Its special steel and PVD
coating allow it to be used at the same
peripheral speed as TCT circular saw
blades.
The feed rates in the central area of
tube crossing are claimed to be 40 per
cent higher than feed rates of TCT saw
blades, and so the blade cuts thin tubes
20 per cent faster than TCT saws. It is
suitable for carbon steel, alloyed steel
with high tensile strength, stainless
steel, stainless steel and non-ferrous
materials.
In recent years, tube processing
technology has changed greatly. Steel’s
higher tensile strength values, greater
tube thickness, and faster production
line speed are often required by
customers. The range includes Olympic
100, suitable for hard material, cutting
with low vibrations; and Olympic 200,
suitable for stainless steel cutting.
Stark Olympic also includes a range
of TCT circular saw blades suitable for
orbital cutting machines.
For cutting tubes with large
dimensions, customers are increasingly
using orbital cutting heads equipped
with two to four blades.
Stark developed a new PVD-coated
resharpenable blade with special tooth
shape, with the aim of reducing the effort
during cutting and to reach a longer tool
life. According to the section and the
material to be cut, Stark can supply
different toothing geometries, specially
developed to obtain the highest cutting
performance.
Stark SpA – Italy
Fax: +39 0432 999097
Email:
Website:
Circular saw blades from Stark