In the manufacture and installation of pipe products for various purposes, special equipment for cutting pipes is used. It allows you to cut out a fragment of the required size from the base workpiece. The design of the device consists of a thrust housing and cutting rollers.
The force transmitted through the lever acts on the cutting roller and converts the pressure created on the pipe cutter body into rotational movements. The result is an even, neat cut, which makes it easy and convenient to connect a separate part of the pipe to the overall system.
We will talk about pipe-cutting tools, types of pipe cutters, and how they work, as well as how to properly cut pipes of various diameters.
Classification of modern pipe cutters
Tools designed for cutting pipes, first, differ from each other in power and ability to work with materials of different densities.
Universal pipe cutters can easily withstand high loads and easily cope with thick-walled steel and cast-iron pipes with a diameter of up to 12 mm. This class also includes progressive devices equipped with a clamp latch. Thanks to it, the tool becomes stronger and easily cuts a pipe with a diameter of up to 324 mm.
The second group includes equipment designed to work with pipe products made of thinner materials: brass, copper, and stainless steel. The same tool is usually used to cut plastic and metal-plastic pipes, especially when it is required to maintain the most accurate dimensions and obtain an ideal straight cut at the output.
Design features of cutting equipment
An important distinguishing feature of a pipe cutting machine is the number of cutting rollers. The simplest version has only one sharply honed roller and two guides. Such a tool is suitable for cutting pipes with a diameter of 15-50 mm and requires considerable physical effort from the worker.
The cut is not very clear and almost always needs additional processing and removal of external and internal burrs.
Specifications and principles of operation
The construction equipment market today offers various types of pipe cutters for use: mechanical manual, electromechanical and electric. Manual units are considered the simplest and cheapest. Most often used in everyday life for one-time repair and installation work. They function only due to human muscle strength.
They have an ergonomic handle that provides the most efficient conversion of effort into results. They do not require complex maintenance, are highly durable, and reliably serve for many years.
Electric pipe cutters are characterized by increased productivity, they make a better, even cut and do not force the master to make significant efforts to perform the necessary actions.
How do pipe cutters of different types of work?
According to the principle of operation, the pipe-cutting tool is divided into four subclasses:
- Manual one’s work is under the direct influence of human physical strength and does not require any specific skills from the user.
- Electric has an internal motor that starts the unit into operation. Compact models of low and medium power are suitable for domestic use, while massive models cope with large-scale tasks and increased loads. Equipped with a roller system for holding and rotating tubular material. The cutting disc, made of high-strength alloy, is fed to the cutting area manually or using the built-in drive.
- Pneumatic high-quality fast-cut pipes of large diameter with the help of cutters for contact with material of different densities, ranging from thin polymer plastic to cast iron. They are mainly used for industrial work, as they are bulky and heavy. They are transported to the place of work on special carts and require qualified service by trained personnel.
- Hydraulics consists of a rod, a piston, and a hydraulic pump. For full-fledged functioning, they do not need an electric current since they use the principle of liquid pressure in their work. The internal pump creates an impact on the piston, which drives the mechanism. When the water pressure drops, the incisors return to their original positions. The device is significantly superior in power to manual models, but inferior to equipment running on an electrician.
Conclusion
Having familiarized yourself with the types and types of pipe-cutting equipment, choosing the right tool will not be difficult at all. If doubts remain, consultants of construction and hardware stores will be happy to come to the rescue and suggest which device is best to purchase.
