Abstract: A cutting blade for use in a ram operated system for strategically cutting out tubing to facilitate bending thereof. The cutting blade has: first and second walls arranged in a V-shape, with each having a leading end and a trailing end; first and second substantially straight shearing edges on the leading ends of the first and second walls and residing substantially in a single plane; a planar entry surface angularly disposed with respect to the plane of the shearing edges; and an elongate, substantially straight, ridge at the apex of the V-shaped walls and defining, in conjunction with the planar entry surface, a leading tip on the cutting blade for penetrating a tubing piece.

Abstract: A die press consisting of: a bed on which a workpiece is supported in operating position; a die holder movable between a retracted position and an extended position; a workpiece holder mounted for movement relative to the bed between a holding position and a release position; and cooperating structure on the die holder, bed, and workpiece holder for moving the workpiece holder from its release position to its holding position as an incident of the die holder moving from its retracted position towards its extended position. The workpiece holder in its holding position maintains a workpiece in operating position on the bed.

Abstract: A die for making an incision in a workpiece by forcibly advancing the die in a linear path against a workpiece. The die consists of a body with leading and trailing ends and a cutting blade on the leading end of the body, which cutting blade has first and second spaced, wedge-shaped projections, each having an apex at its leading end, and a cutting edge between the projections and spaced in a trailing direction from the apexes of the projections.