TPT July 2015

Technology News

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

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.

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 81 st 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

Vogel Tool & Die – USA Website: www.vogeltool.com

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.

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.

The range includes three kinds of blades: HSS circular saw blades; throw-away TCT saw blades; and resharpenable TCT saw blades.

Circular saw blades from Stark

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

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

Stark SpA – Italy Fax: +39 0432 999097

Email: info@starktools.com Website: www.starktools.com

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J uly 2015