A pipe rotator assembly includes a frame upon which a cylindrical pipe is supportable, and a wheel rotatably coupled to the frame and engageable with the pipe for imparting rotation thereto in response to rotation of the wheel. The pipe rotator assembly additionally includes a drive shaft coupled to the wheel for transferring torque thereto, causing the wheel to rotate, and a drive unit for providing torque to the drive shaft. The drive unit includes an electric motor and an onboard power source for powering the motor.

An automated system for manipulating a workpiece includes a machining device, a locating device configured to determine a position of a workpiece, and a positioning system operatively connected to the machining device and being configured to adjust a position of the machining device to align a centerline of the machining device with a longitudinal axis of the workpiece, based upon the determined position of the workpiece. The machining device includes a stabilizing mechanism to engage the workpiece to maintain the workpiece in the determined position, and a cutting element for performing a machining operation on the workpiece.

A portable pipe threader includes a stand upon which a pipe is supported, a carriage supported by the stand, and a plurality of pipe threading tools coupled to the carriage and selectively operable to perform work on the pipe. The portable pipe threader further includes a drive assembly mounted to the stand including a brushless direct current (DC) motor operable to provide torque to one of the pipe or a selected one of the pipe threading tools to rotate the pipe and the selected one of the pipe threading tools relative to each other, and a battery pack supported by the stand in selective electrical communication with the motor to provide electrical power to the motor.

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.

A tip dressing cutter (1) includes a rotary holder (5) and a cutter plate (2). The cutter plate (2) includes a cutting blade portion (2d) formed on a continuous portion of a rake face (2a) and a flank face (2b) and extending along a direction intersecting with a rotation axis (C1). A plurality of recessed grooves (2e) are formed on the flank face (2b), the plurality of recessed grooves (2e) extending from a location proximate to the cutting blade portion (2d) in a circumferential direction around the rotation axis C1 away from the cutting blade portion (2d) and being spaced at predetermined intervals along a direction intersecting with the rotation axis (C1).

Provided is a tip dresser blade comprising a body of M-2 steel hardened to a Rockwell C hardness in the range of 63 to 66, inclusive, by double tempering. The body may be ground to provide a specific first geometry, or a specific second geometry, or a specific third geometry, or a specific fourth geometry.

A tool for removing burrs/flash from a work piece includes a linear body having a cutter/abrasive end and an opposite shank end. The shank end is adapted for attachment to a rotary power source. At least one bushing is secured to the linear body, the bushing allowing rotation of the tool there within while an outer portion of the bushing remains stationary.

An apparatus for selectively removing material from both an inner and outer circumference of an end of a tubular workpiece includes a cylindrical outer frame. A blade holder is affixed to the outer frame. The blade holder has a conical configuration with a base located adjacent a first rim of the outer frame and an apex located adjacent a second rim of the outer frame. At least one ID blade is carried by the blade holder and has an ID cutting edge oriented radially outward. At least one OD blade is carried by the blade holder and has an OD cutting edge oriented radially inward. A motive cap has a rim-coupling feature configured for selective engagement sequentially with the first and second rims of the outer frame, to selectively provide rotational motion to the outer frame and thus indirectly to the blade holder.

A chain-reactive, heat-generating microcapsule comprises a first compartment including a first component and a second compartment including a second component. An isolating structure separates the first and second compartments. The isolating structure may rupture when heated above a normal ambient temperature and/or in response to a compressive force. The first component reacts with the second component to produce heat. The microcapsule may further incorporate a blowing agent that responds to heating. In some embodiments, a core within the first compartment comprises a blowing agent material that responds to the heat produced when the first and second components react. The microcapsules can be incorporated into a material comprising a heat-curable resin precursor such that heat generated by the microcapsules can be used to cure the resin precursor.

A chain-reactive, heat-generating microcapsule comprises a first compartment including a first component and a second compartment including a second component. An isolating structure separates the first and second compartments. The isolating structure may rupture when heated above a normal ambient temperature and/or in response to a compressive force. The first component reacts with the second component to produce heat. The microcapsule may further incorporate a blowing agent that responds to heating. In some embodiments, a core within the first compartment comprises a blowing agent material that responds to the heat produced when the first and second components react. The microcapsules can be incorporated into a material comprising a heat-curable resin precursor such that heat generated by the microcapsules can be used to cure the resin precursor.