A method where a propeller is set into locomotion relative to a medium at least partially surrounding the propeller. An actuator induces a rotation of the propeller relative to the medium and about a rotational axis of the propeller, and the propeller converts its rotational movement into locomotion relative to the medium. The aspect ratio of at least one cross-section of the propeller is three or more. Also a helical or modifiedly helical propeller for converting rotational movement of the propeller into locomotion of the propeller relative to a medium at least partially surrounding the propeller, where the aspect ratio of at least one cross section of the propeller is three or more. And a method of producing a propeller, including the step of providing a plate extending along the helical axis, where the aspect ratio of at least one cross section of the plate is three or more.

Laser shock peening is applied to a harvester component for an agricultural wear application that for example may be any of the following components: a knifeback, a knifehead, a knifeback connecting strap, a straw chopper, a sickle section, stalk chopper, a bedknife, a sod cutter knife, a net wrap knife or a combine concave component. The laser shock peening may be selectively applied. For example, laser shock peening can be applied in regions of drive ends of harvester components, and/or in regions proximate fastener holes of such harvester components.

A rope severing device for cutting a rope after a continued compressive force is disclosed. The rope severing device includes a housing having a base and a top and the top is movably mounted to the base such that the top can move axially with respect to the base. A blade is positioned at least partially within the housing and fixedly mounted with respect to the base. In some embodiments, an elastic member is positioned inside the housing in contact with the base and a damper is attached to the base to dampen relative movement of the top and the base. Upon application of a compressive force to the housing, the top moves toward the base and the blade is at least partially exposed through an opening in the top to sever a rope attached to the rope severing device.

A cutting tool includes a base with a table surface and a cutting platform. The cutting platform is suspended above the table surface and includes a blade housing. The blade housing includes a blade holder with a linear blade. The blade holder is slidably connected through the base housing. A housing column is configured on the base of the cutting tool. A handle raises and lowers the blade. A guide rail is pivotally connected to the table surface by at least one releasable guide rail connector. The guide rail is releasably locked with respect to the blade at a plurality of angles.

A method is disclosed. The method includes providing a ceramic blade having a thickness and a ceramic cutting edge portion, providing a primary grind having a primary angle to the ceramic cutting edge portion based on a predetermined primary ratio, and providing a micro grind having a micro angle to the ceramic cutting edge portion based on a predetermined micro ratio. The predetermined primary ratio is a predetermined thickness divided by a predetermined primary angle. The predetermined micro ratio is the predetermined thickness divided by a predetermined micro angle. The method includes measuring at least one of the thickness, the primary angle, and the micro angle, and comparing at least one of the measured thickness to the predetermined thickness, the measured primary angle to the predetermined primary angle, and the measured micro angle to the predetermined micro angle.

A rotary cutting disc (10) comprising two coaxial mutually opposed disc-shaped elements (12a, 12b) each having a circumferential edge, wherein circumferential edges (14a, 14b) of the disc-shaped elements (12a, 12b) are joined together forming a cutting edge (16) of the cutting disc (10); wherein each of the disc-shaped elements (12a, 12b) comprises one or more at least partly curved elongated deformation lines (30), wherein the one or more deformation lines (30) have a radial distance from the centre (26) of the cutting disc (10) that increases along at least a part of the length of the deformation line (30). The rotary cutting disc (10) has an increased critical speed that allows improving the efficiency of a cutting operation with a cutting disc while maintaining acceptable levels of quality, cutting precision and safety.

Automated fiber placement (AFP) cutter blade assemblies, AFP cutter systems including the same, and associated methods. An AFP cutter blade assembly includes a blade base and a reversible blade insert configured to be coupled to the blade base in either of a first cutter blade configuration, in which a first cutting edge is an active cutting edge, and a second cutter blade configuration, in which a second cutting edge is the active cutting edge. In examples, an AFP cutter system includes a plurality of AFP cutter blade assemblies in combination with an actuator assembly. In examples, a method of reconfiguring a reversible blade insert of an AFP cutter blade assembly includes uncoupling the reversible blade insert from a blade base, rotating the reversible blade insert relative to the blade base, and operatively coupling the reversible blade insert to the blade base in a different configuration.

Embodiments of the invention provide a cutting tool. The cutting tool includes a pin that defines an axis, a first jaw, a second jaw, a first blade, and a second blade. The first and second jaws are configured to rotate about the axis. The first jaw includes a first ear surface that has a first ear bore that is dimensioned to receive the pin. The second jaw includes a second ear surface rotationally engaged with the first ear surface and includes a second ear bore that is dimensioned to receive the pin. The blades can include a tapered face and a non-tapered face. The first and second ear surfaces can be coplanar with the respective non-tapered face.

A tool configured to cut a workpiece includes a tool head which has a receiving contour in which the workpiece is received, and a movable cutting edge with a cutting contour. In the course of a cutting process, the cutting edge passes through the receiving contour. The cutting edge is subjected to the effect of an advancement part and can be moved to such an extent in the cutting direction(s) that it can pass all the way through the workpiece. In an embodiment, a position of the cutting edge reached after the cutting edge has passed all the way through the workpiece, the cutting edge, with removal from the advancement part, can be moved out from the cutting direction(s).

A cartridge adapted to secure reciprocating bread slicer blades including a rectangular frame having a planar surface, the frame having a plurality of pairs of opposed holders, each pair of the opposed holders adapted to releasably secure opposed ends of a corresponding bread slicer blade. The frame is adapted to secure a plurality of aligned bread slicer blades defining a plane offset from the frame planar surface. The frame is adapted to selectively maintain each of the plurality of aligned bread slicer blades in tension.