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 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.