Conair launches planetary cutters for pipe

By Bruce Geiselman 

Conair’s new MDT series and MTT series PipeMaster planetary cutters provide continuous, distortion-free, chip-free cutting of extruded PVC and polyolefin plastic pipe, according to the company. 

“The MDT and MTT planetary cutters combine together rugged reliability, cost-efficient performance, and simple, well-engineered controls,” Conair VP of Extrusion Sales Ernie Preiato said.   

Planetary cutting technology is especially advantageous when working with larger-diameter extruded plastic pipes because it ensures continuous, square, distortion-free cuts, according to the company. In addition, because the process creates no chips or waste, pipe yields are optimized, and no secondary cleaning is needed. 

The technology involves a toothless blade rotating around the pipe. To make the concept easier to understand, Preiato compared it to pipe cutters used by plumbers. 

“We make a much more sophisticated version of that,” Preiato said. “The advantage of it is that other technology would use a saw blade, and with a saw blade, you generate a lot of dust and chips. Getting those chips and dust off the pipe is very hard because it has static cling. So, this is a toothless blade that goes all around the pipe and cuts through it.  

“A lot of this pipe is used for water and gas transmission. So, those particles would end up in the valves in the installation and clog them up. That's the principle behind doing what’s called chipless cutting.” 

The cutters are available in six sizes that cover pipe diameters as small as 0.63 inch to as large as 24.81 inches. The cutters can operate at line speeds of up to 82 feet per minute, depending on the size of the machine. Two MDT models are designed for smaller pipe diameters of up to 4.3 inches, and four MTT models cut larger diameter pipes. 

All the new models are equipped with a servo-driven, traveling cutting carriage. The speed is synchronized with the line speed of the master extrusion control, according to Conair. The traveling carriage includes an automatic clamping system and a planetary cutting head. The clamping system locks the cutting head onto the moving extruded pipe as it enters the machine, and the planetary cutting head rotates a cutting disk around the pipe to complete the cut. Finished pipes then move down the cutter’s support tray for off-loading. 

“The servo table exactly synchronizes the speed of the cutting head to the pipe,” Preiato said.  

The MDT series and MTT series cutters come with a 7-inch color touch-screen HMI for entering and managing control speeds, alarm capabilities and new and existing production recipes. The HMI also can manage communications with upstream extruder controls or downstream measuring equipment. 

The cutters include full guarding for operator safety and safety interlocks on all opening doors. 

Bruce Geiselman, senior staff reporter

Contact: 

Conair Group, Cranberry Township, Pa., 724-584-5500, www.conairgroup.com  

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