An electronic component removal device comprising a cutting wire routed through a cutting region configured to receive an electronic component coupled to a substrate. The electronic component removal device can also include a leading actuator coupled to a leading end of the cutting wire to cause movement of the cutting wire in a cutting direction at a cutting speed. The electronic component removal device can further include a trailing resistance device coupled to a trailing end of the cutting wire to resist movement of the cutting wire in the cutting direction with a variable resistance. In addition, the electronic component removal device can include a leading tension sensor to sense a leading tension in the cutting wire between the cutting region and the leading actuator. The trailing resistance device can resist movement of the cutting wire with a resistance that varies based on the leading tension in the cutting wire.

This process for manufacturing a closed loop of cutting wire comprises manufacturing a cutting wire comprising a central core extending continuously between two free ends. The central core having a tensile strength higher than 1400 MPa. The process includes welding the two free ends together to form the closed loop of cutting wire, in which: the manufacture of the cutting wire comprises making the central core from a material that is solid-state weldable. The welding is a solid-state welding operation comprising crushing, at a temperature below the melting point of the material of the central core, one of the free ends against the other of its free ends until the two ends have interpenetrated and formed a single uniform body of material.

A method is provided for removing an abandoned marine platform from a seabed. The platform extends below the seabed mud line. In order to remove the platform, a frame is provided having a perimeter that surrounds an open center. The frame is lowered over the platform wherein the platform occupies the open center portion. A movable cutter cable is fitted to the frame. At least a part of the cutter cable is positioned below the mud line. The cutter is moved relative to the frame to cut the platform below the mud line. Such movement can be a back and forth movement wherein the cutter cable moves in a first direction, stops and then moves in a second direction that is generally opposite the first direction. A lifting device can employ two vessels and two frames, each frame bridging from one vessel to the other. Winches on the vessel can be used to provide movement to the cutter cable. These same winches can take up cable slack as cutting moves from one platform member (e.g. leg, jacket leg, piling, etc) to another.

A method for crushing a metal dross block and/or metal extension uses a cable saw to at least tartly cut the metal dross block and/or metal extension.

A diamond wire saw and method provides a frame that includes a clamp that attaches to a target (e.g. piling, beam, tubular), an elongated toothed rack extending away from the mount and target, and a moving portion that carries the diamond wire and motor drives that advance the moving portion toward the target and along the toothed rack while driving the wire around roller guides.

A wire saw for cutting pipe is provided including a saddle forming a saddle surface for abutting against a cylindrical pipe, an elongate guide fixed to the saddle, a bow having a first and second end, a bridge portion joining the first and second ends, and an open end having a length L from the first end to the second end which is greater than a diameter D of the pipe, a wire loop movable along a track formed within the bow, and a cooling system for actively cooling the wire loop. The elongate guide has an axis approximately perpendicular to an axis of the pipe when the pipe is abutting against the saddle. An exposed portion of the wire loop extends across the open end. The bow is moveable on the elongate guide toward and away from the pipe when the pipe is abutting against the saddle.

A wire saw for cutting pipe is provided including a saddle forming a saddle surface for abutting against a cylindrical pipe, an elongate guide fixed to the saddle, a bow having a first and second end, a bridge portion joining the first and second ends, and an open end having a length L from the first end to the second end which is greater than a diameter D of the pipe, a wire loop movable along a track formed within the bow, and a cooling system for actively cooling the wire loop. The elongate guide has an axis approximately perpendicular to an axis of the pipe when the pipe is abutting against the saddle. An exposed portion of the wire loop extends across the open end. The bow is moveable on the elongate guide toward and away from the pipe when the pipe is abutting against the saddle.

A method and apparatus for cutting a polymeric tubular member is provided. The method includes moving the polymeric tubular member along a central longitudinal axis into a position to be cut and providing a cutting blade operably connected to an actuator. The method further includes actuating the actuator to move the cutting blade conjointly along a straight linear axis. Then, bringing a cutting region of the cutting blade into cutting engagement with the polymeric tubular member, with the cutting region engaging the polymeric tubular member extending over a length of the cutting blade that is greater than a diameter of the polymeric tubular member.

Monofilament metal saw wire for a wire saw, wherein the saw wire being provided with a plurality of crimps. The crimps are arranged in at least two different planes, such that, when measured, between measuring rods of a micrometer, over a length comprising crimps in at least two different planes, a circumscribed enveloping D diameter of the saw wire is between 1.05 and 1.50 times a diameter d of the saw wire itself.

A diamond wire saw and method provides a frame that includes a clamp that attaches to a target (e.g. piling, beam, tubular), an elongated toothed rack extending away from the mount and target, and a moving portion that carries the diamond wire and motor drives that advance the moving portion toward the target and along the toothed rack while driving the wire around roller guides.