There is one essential characteristic quality that professional cutting tools have: their cutting blades are specially constructed for a specific use. Tools optimised to such a degree require very little force when cutting and can be operated with just one hand in most cases. Weidmüller's tools fulfil every aspect of the requirements placed on professional cutting tools - and that applies no matter if cutting large or small cross-sections, copper or aluminium conductors, single- or multi-conductor cables, solid or flexible core cables as well as data/telephone and control cables.
Cables and conductors create the links between electrical and electronics components. In order to be able to adequately connect the wide variety and various styles of cables and conductors in accordance with the different types of connections, it is necessary to prepare these as exactly as possible. This is where the quality of the cutting process is decisive. With its broad palette of cutting tool products, Weidmüller is able to fulfil all of the criteria demanded of professional cable preparation. The demands Weidmüller places on its cutting tools are: smooth, straight cut without distorting the conductor. As defined by DIN 8588, experts differentiate between shear cutting, wedge-action cutting, tearing and breaking. Shear cutting in particular is used for cutting cables, leads and conductors. Cutting tools with cross-cutting blades perform an oblique drawing cut without any play. The cutting movement during an oblique drawing cut is made at an angle to the tool. The cutting blades cross one another in a manner similar that of a pair of scissors, which means the actual cut is slightly delayed and less force is required.
Weidmüller specialise in cutting copper and aluminium cables: the palette of products ranges from cutting tools utilising direct force transmission for small cross-sections through to cutting tools for large diameters. KT 45R, KT55 and KT80 cutting tools have been designed for cutting large cross-sections with outer diameters of 45, 55 and 80 mm. The maximum cutting capacity for flexible copper cables is 400 (KT 45R), 500 (KT55) und 630 mm2 (KT80) conductor cross-sections. A distinguishing feature of the cutting tools is the particularly striking shape of the blades that facilitate an oblique drawing cut. Thanks to this special blade form it is now possible to construct more compactly designed tools to cut larger cross-sections. The result is a high-quality, smooth and straight cut without any distortion to the conductor - which means without any pinching or tearing. The mechanical drive mechanism and the specifically constructed form of the cutting blades has led to an impressive reduction in the amount of force the hand is required to exert when using the manually operated KT 45R and KT55. In the case of the KT 80, the optimum leverage ratio is achieved through an eccentric mechanism.
Weidmüller paid a great deal of attention to the handle grips of the tools. Thanks to their so-called hard/hard combination, the material and surface texture of the handles of the KT 45R and KT55 lend themselves to an advantageous construction that makes them suitable for the harsh conditions that exist in industry and the trades. Their handling qualities are not impaired by oil and other lubricants, in contrast to a hard/soft combination of handle grips. Weidmüller's tools are recognisable by the characteristically uniform black-orange design of the upper handle as well as the ergonomic design of the handles. The newly redesigned handles allow a clearly better positioning of the hand, which ensure that the fingers do not become squeezed together during the cutting process. When working with the cutting tools KT 45R und KT 55, the hand automatically takes up a natural and optimum position: the hand slides comfortably along the handle without any hindrance, which means it is not necessary to re-grip the tool. Thanks to the new design of the handles, users are able to work with the tools for long periods without wearying or any signs of pain.
With its cutting tool KT 45R in particular, Weidmüller has succeeded in creating a real masterpiece: thanks to the optimised transmission of force ratio, little hand force is required for users to comfortably achieve a clean cutting result. The ratchet mechanism has been designed as a direct-action solution to attain the best possible compromise between the amount of force to be exerted and the cutting speed. The result - the hand is required to exert less force and the work is completed more quickly. Added to that, the compactly constructed handles with optimised design features offer safe and reliable handling attributes as well as what becomes essentially fatigue-free working. Furthermore, the weight of the cutting tools has been reduced by the use of new materials - whilst maintaining high levels of quality. The use of high-quality steel as well as state-of-the-art processing and handling methods are yet another sign of quality. A further quality attribute is the operational lifetime, which is now by some 5 000 cycles.
Professional precision tools guarantee a constant high level of processing quality even after many operating cycles. And to ensure that it remains that way, Weidmüller offers its customers an extensive range of services. These include fast delivery of spare parts or repairs as well as comprehensive consultation and examination of tools services.
The products in detail:
KT 45R:
Maximum values when cutting copper cable Stranded core (max. conductor cross-section), mm2 300 Flexible core (max. conductor cross-section), mm2 400 Flexible/stranded core (max. conductor diameter), mm 45 Sector-shaped conductor 3 x 70 SM
Maximum values when cutting aluminium cable Stranded core (max. conductor cross-section), mm2 400 Stranded core (max. conductor diameter), mm 45 Sector-shaped conductor 4 x 70 SE
Data /telephone /control cable Maximum outer diameter, mm 45
Tool data Length / width / height, mm 290 / 40 / 85 Weight, g 740
KT 55:
Maximum values when cutting copper cable Stranded core (max. conductor cross-section), mm2 500 Flexible core (max. conductor cross-section), mm2 500 Flexible/stranded core (max. conductor diameter), mm 55 Sector-shaped conductor 3 x 150 SM
Maximum values when cutting aluminium cable Stranded core (max. conductor cross-section), mm2) 500 Stranded core (max. conductor diameter), mm 55 Sector-shaped conductor 4 x 150 SE
Data / telephone / control cable Maximum outer diameter, mm 55
Tool data Length / width / height, mm 365 / 45 / 115 Weight, g 1450
KT 80:
Maximum values when cutting copper cable Stranded core (max. conductor cross-section), mm2 630 Flexible core (max. conductor cross-section), mm2 630 Flexible/stranded core (max. conductor diameter), mm2 80 Sector-shaped conductor 3 x 240 SM
Maximum values when cutting aluminium cable Stranded core (max. conductor cross-section), mm2 1000 Sector-shaped conductor 4 x 240 SE
Data /telephone /control cable Maximum outer diameter, mm 80
Tool data Length / width / height, mm 675 / 55 / 175 Weight, g 3240
Key word: cutting tools KT 45R, KT55, KT 80
For more information: www.weidmueller.com