Pipe machining apparatuses, tool supports, and methods of operating pipe machining apparatuses are provided. In one aspect, a pipe machining apparatus includes a frame, a tool carrier coupled to and movable relative to the frame, and a tool support coupled to and movable with the tool carrier relative to the frame. The tool support is adapted to support a tool and move the tool in a first direction toward a pipe at a first increment and move the tool in a second direction away from the pipe at a second increment. The second increment is larger than the first increment.

Pipe machining apparatuses, tool supports, and methods of operating pipe machining apparatuses are provided. In one aspect, a pipe machining apparatus includes a frame, a tool carrier coupled to and movable relative to the frame, and a tool support coupled to and movable with the tool carrier relative to the frame. The tool support is adapted to support a tool and move the tool in a first direction toward a pipe at a first increment and move the tool in a second direction away from the pipe at a second increment. The second increment is larger than the first increment.

The present invention relates to an automatic system for measuring and machining pipe ends having measuring equipment that has an internal laser sensor and an external laser sensor. The system can also have a machining station that has at least one machining tool for machining the inner diameter of the pipe and at least one machining tool for machining the outer diameter of the pipe, which are centralized and operated independently of each other. In some embodiments, the system has an electronic interface central between the measuring equipment and the machining tools, having records of critical values of outer diameter and inner diameter for the pipe end, the electronic interface central receiving measured values of outer and inner diameters from the measuring equipment, comparing them with the critical values, and controlling the operation of the machining tools as a function of the result of the comparison.

The present invention relates to an automatic system for measuring and machining pipe ends having measuring equipment that has an internal laser sensor and an external laser sensor. The system can also have a machining station that has at least one machining tool for machining the inner diameter of the pipe and at least one machining tool for machining the outer diameter of the pipe, which are centralized and operated independently of each other. In some embodiments, the system has an electronic interface central between the measuring equipment and the machining tools, having records of critical values of outer diameter and inner diameter for the pipe end, the electronic interface central receiving measured values of outer and inner diameters from the measuring equipment, comparing them with the critical values, and controlling the operation of the machining tools as a function of the result of the comparison.

A facer facing the ends of polyolefin pipes for butt fusion is modular in the sense that it employs three types of modules, a drive unit, two blade holders and a motor assembly, that are separable from one another and each independently light enough to be hand-lifted along walls and up to ceilings. The drive unit module is adjustable to accommodate different guide rail spacings. The blade holder modules are interchangeable to accommodate different diameters of pipe. The motor assembly module has multispeed capability to accommodate the total area of material to be faced. Each module can be exchanged or modified without use of tools to change the geometry of the assembled facer to accommodate different fusion machines and/or diameters of pipe within working spaces dictated by the diameter of the pipe and not by a fixed geometry of a facer.

A facer facing the ends of polyolefin pipes for butt fusion is modular in the sense that it employs three types of modules, a drive unit, two blade holders and a motor assembly, that are separable from one another and each independently light enough to be hand-lifted along walls and up to ceilings. The drive unit module is adjustable to accommodate different guide rail spacings. The blade holder modules are interchangeable to accommodate different diameters of pipe. The motor assembly module has multispeed capability to accommodate the total area of material to be faced. Each module can be exchanged or modified without use of tools to change the geometry of the assembled facer to accommodate different fusion machines and/or diameters of pipe within working spaces dictated by the diameter of the pipe and not by a fixed geometry of a facer.

Example split frame pipe cutting tools include a frame and a slide tool configured to position a cutting edge in contact with the workpiece to performing cutting or boring on the workpiece, the slide tool comprising: a radial advancement mechanism configured to provide radial advancement of the cutting edge based on circumferential advancement of the slide tool by the frame; and an axial guide rail; a recirculating bearing carriage configured to slide in an axial direction along the axial guide rail and to couple the cutting edge to the axial guide rail; an axial advancement mechanism configured to advance the cutting edge in the axial direction with respect to the workpiece by translating radial advancement by the radial advancement mechanism to axial advancement based on a cutting template coupled to the radial advancement mechanism.

Example split frame pipe cutting tools include a frame and a slide tool configured to position a cutting edge in contact with the workpiece to performing cutting or boring on the workpiece, the slide tool comprising: a radial advancement mechanism configured to provide radial advancement of the cutting edge based on circumferential advancement of the slide tool by the frame; and an axial guide rail; a recirculating bearing carriage configured to slide in an axial direction along the axial guide rail and to couple the cutting edge to the axial guide rail; an axial advancement mechanism configured to advance the cutting edge in the axial direction with respect to the workpiece by translating radial advancement by the radial advancement mechanism to axial advancement based on a cutting template coupled to the radial advancement mechanism.

A method for machining grooves in the surface of a workpiece in which a dummy groove is machined in the surface of the workpiece by moving a cutting tool relative to the workpiece in a first machining direction of the workpiece, then orienting the cutting tool 180 degrees as compared to the first machining, and subsequently second machining the dummy groove by moving the cutting tool in a second direction opposite to the first direction. A displacement of a cutting edge of the cutting tool, caused by the first and second machining of the dummy groove is measured. A groove is machined with the cutting tool in a forward stroke and then a return stoke with the cutting tool rotated 180 degrees between the strokes. A relative position between the workpiece and the cutting tool during the forward and return strokes is corrected so as to eliminate the displacement.

A method for machining grooves in the surface of a workpiece in which a dummy groove is machined in the surface of the workpiece by moving a cutting tool relative to the workpiece in a first machining direction of the workpiece, then orienting the cutting tool 180 degrees as compared to the first machining, and subsequently second machining the dummy groove by moving the cutting tool in a second direction opposite to the first direction. A displacement of a cutting edge of the cutting tool, caused by the first and second machining of the dummy groove is measured. A groove is machined with the cutting tool in a forward stroke and then a return stoke with the cutting tool rotated 180 degrees between the strokes. A relative position between the workpiece and the cutting tool during the forward and return strokes is corrected so as to eliminate the displacement.