A variable rake shear comprises a housing (8), a first blade (1) mounted in a first blade mounting (4), a second blade (2) mounted in a second blade mounting (3); and a control device (5) to control movement of one blade mounting to shear the material. Each blade mounting is movable in at least one dimension relative to the housing. One blade is an active blade (1) and the other blade is a passive blade (2). A rake adjustment mechanism (6a, 6b) for at least one of the mountings (3, 4) and the mounting (4) for the active blade (1) has a torque tube linkage mechanism (10, 11, 12).

Saw system, including methods and apparatus, for cutting pieces of stock to be installed end-to-end to form miter joints. In some embodiments, the saw system may include a computer that determines an appropriate saw pivot angle for cutting a proximal end of a second piece of stock, based on a corner angle entered for cutting a distal end of a first piece of stock. In some embodiments, the saw system may compensate for an offset pivot axis of a saw device based on entered lengths of cut first and second pieces generated respectively with the saw device pivoted to the left and to the right.

A method of cutting a wafer of composite core from a bulk composite core includes stabilizing the bulk composite core with a fixture, the bulk composite core having a plurality of tube members. The method also includes cutting through each of the tube members to create the wafer while the bulk composite core is stabilized by the fixture.

A variable rake shear comprises a housing (8), a first blade (1) mounted in a first blade mounting (4), a second blade (2) mounted in a second blade mounting (3); and a control device (5) to control movement of one blade mounting to shear the material. Each blade mounting is movable in at least one dimension relative to the housing. One blade is an active blade (1) and the other blade is a passive blade (2). A rake adjustment mechanism (6a, 6b) for at least one of the mountings (3, 4) and the mounting (4) for the active blade (1) has a torque tube linkage mechanism (10, 11, 12).

A knife includes a handle that includes a gripping surface; a blade slide positioned in a recess of the handle that extends from an opening of the handle through a cavity within the handle; a blade coupled to the blade slide near a proximal end of the blade and extending through the recess and into the opening when the blade slide is in the retracted position; and a guide coupled to the blade near a distal end of the blade opposite the proximal end, the guide including a contoured surface configured to engage a workpiece to extend the blade slide a distance from the retracted position to an extended position such that the blade is extended from the opening of the handle, the blade slide biased to move from the extended position to the retracted position.

A knife includes a handle that has a surface that may be gripped by a user of the knife. The handle includes an extendable blade that has a cutting portion and a non-cutting portion. The guide is attached to the blade independent of an engaging contact between the guide and the handle. The guide exposes the cutting portion of the blade and cover at least part of the non-cutting portion of the blade.

A method of cutting a control line mounted on an outer surface of a downhole tubular that includes providing a cutting tool having a main body, and a cutting head on a lower end of the body that rotates with respect to the body. A cutting blade is on a lower end of the cutting head, which is rotatable by a motor, where the blade is selectively pivoted radially outward from an axis of the cutting head. As the cutting head rotates, the cutting blade orbits within the tubular axially offset from the axis. When the tool is inserted into the tubular, the radial offset of the blade is controlled so it pivots radially outward into contact with the tubular when the blade approaches an azimuthal area proximate the control line. The cutting blade is retracted when its orbit moves it past the azimuthal area proximate the control line.