Abstract: A tube cutoff apparatus includes a parallelogram link assembly and a rotary arc ram which orbits 360.degree. to maximize the vertical workstroke of the ram relative to the apparatus and has a lower inertia whereby to cut tubes of increased diameter, increase the ram length while decreasing the power required to drive the ram, and increase the driving response. The ram includes separated guide tracks with each track including a slide member that is disposed for sliding movement therein, the guide tracks defining wear plates and the slide members being connected to pairs of links. In one embodiment, two slide members are interconnected by a link plate, preferably by connecting to the individual pivot pins.

Abstract: A tube cut-off die set includes a compliant cam driver received in a jaw carrying cartridge each adapted to be removably mounted to a die shoe as a separate unit or kit, horizontally and vertically driven tube notching and severing blades which pass through the jaws with the notching blade extending from a cross slide which moves horizontally and has its opposite ends secured during the notching movement, and guide posts having the forward ends of guide bushings rigidified to form a box-like structure to shoulder loads during tube severing. Positioning of a cam drive plate so that a cam slot therein drives the notching blades horizontally when the slot is at its lowest position transfers notching forces to the tube.

Abstract: A tube cutting apparatus includes a die jaw mounting arrangement whereby separate of opposed pairs of complemental die jaws are removably mounted onto respective jaw holders by slidable keeper plates and by headed fasteners, threadably connected to a holder. The keeper is slidably connectable to its fastener by a keyhole therein with portions of the keyhole being smaller and larger than the head and a bore through the jaw such that the keeper and jaw are retained on the holder when the fastener head is adjacent the smaller portion of the keyhole and released from the holder when the head is adjacent the larger keyhole portion. A notching blade positioning arrangement allows a gauging block to be inserted between horizontally spaced reference surfaces of a tube notching blade and a die jaw whereby the horizontal cutting path of the notching blade is accurately set. A severing blade mounting arrangement allows a tube severing blade to be rapidly installed/removed.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for severing successive lengths of tubing in a die set in which the movement of an upper die shoe is translated by mechanism to clamp the tubing on a lower die shoe, move a notching blade across the clamped tubing to slot the tubing, and pass a cutoff blade through the slot to sever the tubing. Use of a lever arm pivoted to one of the die shoes in combination with a cam on the other die shoe optimizes horizontal movement of the notching blade relative to vertical movement of the die shoes. In a preferred form, the cutoff blade is passed through a slot in the notching blade holder. The die set can be used in apparatus where the tubing is intermittently supplied, or, as in a tubing mill, a continuous length of tubing is moved during the severing process.

Abstract: A flying cutoff machine for severing elongated material moving continuously longitudinally of its length wherein a die carriage is attachable to the material for movement therewith and includes a reciprocating cutting blade for severing the material. The machine has a frame with a bed slidably supporting the carriage and an elongated ram extending parallel to the bed with the ram being supported through a link and slide arrangement so that the ram is maintained parallel to the bed. The ram is driven by a single crank arrangement to move in a orbital path relative to the bed during sliding movement on the slide member which supports the ram.