Abstract: A cutting apparatus has a cutting tool mounted on an e.g. pivotal support member, under the plane of cut, the cutting tool cutting upwardly through a workpiece to be cut by movement of the support member. The support member is carried by a pivot mounting on a vertical main support plate, the pivot mounting being so arranged that the plane of the cutting tool is substantially aligned with the middle of the pivot mounting. The tool feed forces are applied to the support member close to the notional plane of pivotal movement of the support member, which plane extends through the cutting tool, while the main support plate is adapted to carry clamping means on its top.

Abstract: An apparatus and method of clamping tube-like members on a clamping support, for cutting off portions of the tube-like members are provided. Clamping forces are applied to the tubes alternately in horizontal and vertical directions in such a way that the clamping forces generated are higher than clamping forces which are applied only in a horizontal direction, without however causing permanent deformation of the tube-like members. The apparatus comprises a horizontal clamping mechanism and a vertically displaceable clamping member. A measuring device is associated with the horizontal clamping mechanism and the vertically displaceable clamping member, for measuring the geometrical deformation of the tube-like members which occurs during a clamping operation. The measuring device produces a signal to stop the clamping operation before the degree of deformation of the tube-like members reaches an inadmissible value.