Tube Cutting Tool

thingiverse

This device simplifies cutting small diameter brass or aluminum tubing with a regular hobby knife. Made using PLA with 40% fill, it features a set screw hole that accepts a 10-32 screw, tapped directly into the plastic. For those without a tapping set, consider designing for a captured nut instead. To use, adjust the length and insert your tube before rolling under the knife blade within the guide's right angle positioning. Repeated back-and-forth motion creates a gradually deepening groove until the tube snaps clean. Suitable for tubing 1/4" diameter or smaller, this tool was instrumental in constructing my planetary gear drive; watch it in action at 3:20 of this video. Check out http://youtu.be/P-Obt-9tZVo for more details.