Planetary cutters for distortion-free cuts

New PipeMaster planetary cutters from Conair provide continuous, distortion-free cuts in extruded PVC and polyolefin plastic pipe in diameters from 0.630 - 24.9 inches at line speeds ranging up to 82 feet per minute. The cutters are available in six sizes that serve a range of different pipe diameters, with smaller MDT Series cutters handling pipes up to 4.3 inches and larger MTT Series handling the rest. 

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

Users can set up and operate the cutter with a 7-inch colour touchscreen HMI that makes it simple to enter and manage speed controls, alarm capabilities, and new and existing production recipes, as well as manage communications with upstream extruder controls or downstream measuring equipment.  Other key equipment positioning and adjustments are motorized for operator ease and convenience.  The cutter also provides full guarding for operator safety, including safety tunnels and interlocks on all opening doors.

According to Conair Vice President, Extrusion Ernie Preiato, “the MDT and MTT planetary cutters combine together rugged reliability, cost-efficient performance, and simple, well-engineered controls. They’re part of a larger PipeMaster line that enables pipe production of up to 24.9 in. (630 mm) in size, backed by Conair global service and support.” 

Preiato adds that planetary cutting technology is preferred, especially for larger diameter extruded plastic pipes, because it ensures continuous, square, distortion-free cuts. Since the process creates no chips or waste, pipe yields are optimized and no secondary cleaning or cutting operations are required. 

The Conair Group offers innovative auxiliary equipment solutions to plastics processors around the world. With 32 degreed engineers, including 16 senior team members with an average of over 23 years of experience, Conair brings unparalleled technical expertise and support to its customers, guaranteeing its products will deliver maximum productive uptime. Twenty parts and service team members respond to tens of thousands of calls each year, answering in an average of about 15 seconds. Over 450 individual products include resin drying systems, blenders, feeders and material-conveying systems, temperature-control equipment and granulators. Extrusion solutions include line-control systems, film and sheet scrap-reclaim systems and downstream equipment for pipe and profile extrusion. Conair also has specialized expertise in every major end market – such as packaging, medical, transportation, building and construction, and many others – and strives to ensure plastics processors succeed in today’s competitive global marketplace.