LINEAR SAW WITH STAB-CUT BEVEL CAPABILITY
A method for automatically cutting a workpiece comprising the steps of moving a workpiece along its longitudinal axis, positioning a cutting blade by rotating the blade about a vertical axis, positioning the cutting blade by rotating about a bevel axis, and vertically moving the blade into cutting contact with the workpiece, thereby stab cutting the workpiece and creating a bevel cut. The method may also comprises moving the blade along a transverse axis. Further steps may include moving the cutting blade along a transverse axis simultaneous to moving the workpiece along it longitudinal axis, thereby creating a scarf cut.
1 . An apparatus for cutting a workpiece, the apparatus comprising:
a linear feed assembly capable of automatically moving a workpiece along its longitudinal axis to position the workpiece for a cut; and
an automated cutting assembly having at least one cutting blade, the cutting blade automatically rotatable about a pivot axis, automatically movable along a vertical axis into and out of cutting contact with a workpiece, and automatically rotatable along a bevel axis, the apparatus able to automatically cut the workpiece at a bevel angle using a stab cut by automatically moving the workpiece along its longitudinal axis using the linear feed assembly and simultaneously automatically moving the cutting assembly along the vertical axis.
2 . An apparatus as in claim 1 wherein the cutting blade is further automatically movable along a transverse axis, the apparatus able to cut the workpiece at a bevel cut using a stab cut and thereafter cutting the workpiece while moving the blade along the transverse axis.
3 . An apparatus as in claim 1 further comprising a computer assembly for operating and controlling movement of the cutting assembly blade.
4 . An apparatus as in claim 1 , the cutting blade having a maximum cut length shorter than the length of the bevel cut.
5 . An apparatus as in claim 1 , the blade having a maximum cut length of at least six inches.
6 . An apparatus as in claim 5 further comprising upstream and downstream feed assemblies operable to clamp and move workpieces, sense the presence or absence of a workpiece, determine the length of a workpiece, and position the workpiece for cutting at a selected length.
7 . An apparatus as in claim 1 , the blade having a maximum cut length of at least ten inches.
8 . An apparatus as in claim 1 wherein the apparatus is able to cut the workpiece at other than a ninety-degree bevel cut.
9 . An apparatus for cutting a workpiece, the apparatus comprising:
a linear feed system for automatically moving a workpiece forward and backward along its longitudinal axis; and
a cutting assembly having a cutter blade capable of automatically cutting the workpiece using a stab cut, the apparatus capable of automatically moving the workpiece along its longitudinal axis and simultaneously automatically cutting the workpiece using a stab cut to create a bevel cut on the workpiece.
10 . An apparatus as in claim 9 wherein the cutting blade is further automatically movable along a transverse axis and is capable of cutting the workpiece using a stab cut in combination with a transverse cut.
11 . An apparatus as in claim 9 further comprising a computer assembly for operating and controlling movement of the cutting blade.
12 . An apparatus as in claim 9 , the cutter blade having a maximum cut length greater than the length of the bevel cut.
13 . An apparatus as in claim 9 wherein the bevel cut is a ninety-degree bevel cut.
14 . An apparatus for cutting a workpiece, the apparatus comprising:
a linear feed assembly for automatically moving a workpiece forward and backward along its longitudinal axis; and
a cutting assembly having a cutting blade, the cutting assembly capable of cutting the workpiece using a stab cut, the cutting blade having a maximum cut length, the apparatus capable of automatically creating a bevel cut by simultaneously moving the workpiece along its longitudinal axis and automatically cutting the workpiece using a stab cut, wherein the length of the bevel cut is greater than the cut length of the blade.
15 . An apparatus as in claim 14 wherein the cutting blade is further automatically movable along a transverse axis.
16 . An apparatus as in claim 14 wherein the cutting blade is operable to automatically create at least one bevel cut on a workpiece, at least one transverse cut on the workpiece, and at least one scarf cut on the workpiece.