TPI May 2024

The Tube Saw was engineered with the aim of eliminating weak points in conventional designs and was based on feedback from customers and mechanical contractors. The result is a table- or pipe stand-mountable OD clamping tube saw with a self-centreing clamping system that ensures precise, square cuts. The jaws clamp securely to the material being cut and self-lock to prevent loosening. Jaw extensions snap into place to hold smaller materials. To promote accuracy, an integrated laser line indicates the centre of the cut on tube and thin wall pipe. To facilitate precision, the saw passes around the perimeter of the material to be cut after the plunge cut. A feed handle is geared to prevent the operator from overrunning the cut, yet provides smooth control. The design of the cutting head creates a square cut with high quality surface finish. In considering the market’s needs, Mr Belle also saw a demand for greater versatility. He added: “Most tube saw manufacturers focus on high purity and sanitary piping, which is primarily thin wall tubing. For applications that require cutting thicker wall tubing and piping or exotic materials like Inconel ® , which is common in aerospace, you generally need a second machine. So, there was a market need for a more versatile tube saw.” The newly designed tube saw can cut a wide range of tubes and pipes, ranging from 1 / 4 " to 6" OD and 1 / 8 " to 6" ID respectively. Its capabilities include precision cutting of thin wall stainless steel within the range of .035" to .150" (schedule 10 pipe) as well as the ability to handle challenging materials like titanium and Inconel ® . To enhance productivity when cutting various materials, the saw comes with different blade options. Assorted blade diameters and tooth counts are available for different wall thickness and materials. Quick diameter changes The machine increases productivity by enabling quick diameter changes without the need for tools, and it can make cuts in a single pass. The advanced tube saw demonstrates superior performance in cutting thin walls, including specialised

The new tube saw design incorporates sealed precision bearings to ensure smooth, accurate cuts over years of use

To give mechanical contractors the freedom to use The Tube Saw anywhere, the machine is designed for use with a cordless motor, but can be used with a corded motor as well. Ambidextrous interfaces provide the capability to reconfigure the tool for use on either side of the machine, accommodating both left-handed and right-handed users. This can also facilitate placement of The Tube Saw in tight spaces or against a wall. A prevalent issue encountered with conventional tube saws is that their design leaves crucial components, such as bearings, susceptible to the fine metal particles that detach from pipes and tubes during the cutting process. The presence of even the tiniest metal fragments in the bearings not only reduces accuracy and performance, but also results in abrasive wear and damage. In numerous aerospace environments, traditional tube saws are essentially deemed disposable in a span of six to nine months due to the ingress of metal particles into the bearings during cutting operations. Sealed precision bearings As a preventive measure, the new tube saw design incorporates sealed precision bearings to ensure smooth, accurate cuts over years of use. To increase longevity, a variable speed motor provides cutting speed control for long blade life and material finish. Hard anodised coatings throughout the machine components provide corrosion protection and robustness for harsh environments. In today’s high-pressure industrial landscape, precision tube and thin wall pipe cutting plays a crucial role in various sectors such as aerospace, mechanical contracting and pharmaceutical and semiconductor manufacturing. For these industries, as well as the mechanical contractors that install high purity pipe and tube, the use of a meticulously engineered tube saw that offers enhanced precision, reliability, flexibility and longevity can significantly enhance both quality and productivity.

metals such as titanium tubing, which is often brittle. “The clamping force, plunge cut and radial cut are very important when it comes to cutting titanium to length,” said Mr Belle. “You don’t want it to tear as you are cutting.” He adds that for one aerospace company, The Tube Saw was recently tasked with cutting tubing with an approximately 28-thousandths of an inch wall thickness.

Designed to withstand demanding environments, a tube saw like that from Tri Tool eliminates the need for premature replacement and ensures long-lasting performance

Tri Tool Technologies www.tritool.com

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TUBE PRODUCTS INTERNATIONAL May 2024

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