摘要 |
<p>Method and apparatus for separating thin-walled flat metal tubing (34) are disclosed. The tubing (34) has flat upper and lower walls (130, 132) joined by end walls. The tubing (34) is partially severed by providing relative movement between the tubing and opposed cutting blades (102, 104) having straight or slightly curved cutting edges (102a, 102b, 104a, 104b). The relative movement is transverse to the longitudinal axis of the tubing (34), and the straight slicing edges (102a. 102b, 104a, 104b), or the chords of curved slicing blades (102, 104), form a small acute angle ( THETA ) with respect to the flat faces (130, 132) of the tubing (34). The tubing (34) is completely severed by applying an axial force to the tubing (34). Pressing heads (160, 162) follow the slicing blades (152) to press any burrs (170) back into the tubing (34). <IMAGE></p> |