Tube Notching

The Sync180 tube notcher being used in a crane repair application.

2012-01-23T14:59:00.001-08:00

Larry Elliott - certified welder performing mobile repair on crane booms.

“The SYNC180 with the lift kit has increased my production time almost 3 fold.”

Larry has the Sync180 mounted to a custom made hitch off the backend of his work truck.

Here he is using a 3½” holesaw on a 1¼ tube. Larry uses holesaws upwards to 4”. The Sync180 with the optional lift kit makes it possible. No other notcher can swing a 4” holesaw.

A typical week’s worth of lacing braces that have been replaced.

"I’ve been using the SYNC180 for about a year now and it has made my job much more productive... all tubing fits require a 0 gap all the way around and using the SNYC180 sure beats the cut and grind method! … It’s been a great investment.”

Larry Elliott of ELLIOTT WELDING SERVICES, Kemp, Texas.

A Niche For Notches | MailTribune.com

2010-04-19T11:57:00.001-07:00

A Niche For Notches | MailTribune.com

"It's not the first notcher in the world," said Snyder. "It actually came about because other notchers always have a lot of limitations. We devised the SYNC Notcher 180 to make a more user-friendly version."

Notching Thin Wall Tubing, or short pieces

2010-01-12T11:12:00.000-08:00

Our latest product!! TWITS (Thin Wall Independent Tube Support).

Using TWITS, you are able to notch into thin tubing such as chromoly and titanium, without destroying the hole saw,or the tubing. Before now it has been nearly impossible to create a fishmouth with any hole saw type notcher.

Bicycle frame builders should take a serious look at this product. It will come in very handy for tube mitering. We have thus far sold many units in conjunction with fine tooth holesaws to various custom frame builders throughout the country.

Info and videos can be accessed at: http://syncnotcher.com/twits

Making a through hole (vent) at a 60º intersection of adjoining pipe

2009-11-10T13:53:00.001-08:00

We had a potential customer asking if the JD2 NotchMaster could cut a 60º notch into 1-1/2" stainless steel pipe (1.9" OD). The NotchMaster and most other tube notchers will only do up to a 40º angle before it physically runs out of room for the hole saw to begin on the side. So that's not a possibility. We knew however, that the SYNC180 would be up for the task!

Most notchers do not have the capacity to perform this task if it were to be done for example in the middle section of a pipe because the extension of the pipe length collides with one thing or another . But here's how we can do it with the SYNC180. To notch a maximum sized vent in the middle section of a 1 1/2" pipe (1.90") @ 60º we use a 1 1/2 hole saw and make the first cut at 60º until the hole saw bottoms out. Then we reposition the notching angle to 0º and make a second notch after the pipe is shifted horizontally to line up the edge of the hole saw with a mark approximately 3" from the entry point of the first notch. The overall process takes about 5 minutes.

Although this task could also be accomplished on a mill with an endmill cutter (by clamping the work piece over the edge of the table) the set up time would be unreasonably long.

The first pic is an end view showing the inner wall of the first notch with a side pipe fitted up against the outer wall.

The other pics are showing steps for the second (and easier) notch.

1. Set the notcher at 60º , line up pipe where you want to start the notch and cut until it bottoms out.

2. Move the pipe to the left about 3" (without rotating it so you stay in line) and set the notcher at 0º

3. This pic shows hole saw about halfway through the wall at the 0º position.

4. Completed notch. I actually went back to the 60º position and ran the hole saw back through to clean up where the two cuts met because I was slightly off a bit. That is something that would be improved upon with experience.

The only difference between the two finished notches would be the wall angle on the right hand side of each. The second method has a more abrupt edge at this point because of cutting it at 0º angle. It's something you should consider because it might make a difference with flow values. I 'spose you could ease the edge by following through even deeper with a final cut at the 60º position.

New Lift Kit allows notching on up to 3" tube

2009-06-24T11:53:00.000-07:00

The kit will increase the maximum holding capacity of the vise jaws from 2-1/2 to 3” So now you can notch in to 3" tubing! This optional accessory kit will increase the maximum usable size hole saw to 4”. Now smaller tubing can be coped to match larger sizes upwards to 4”. The SYNC180 is easily converted by simply installing the shims between the jaws and base plate. Bolts are included.

http://www.syncnotcher.com/liftkit.html

Fine Tooth Hole Saws

2009-05-07T10:44:00.000-07:00

NEW! Fine Tooth Hole Saws for thin-wall tubing
Our new fine tooth holesaw are best for notching thin-wall tubing.
These new holesaw have 10 teeth per inch as compared to standard holesaws.

Typically the 4/6 vary tooth is what most hardware stores and home centers sell. The vary tooth is the best choice for notching thick-wall (.175 and greater) round tubing and square tubing (held flat ways).
The vary tooth is the fastest cutting of them all but encounters problems when cutting thin-wall material. What happens is the thin-wall will “drop” into the gullet of a hole saw. This is known as an “interrupted cut”. As one tooth breaks contact with the cut and the next tooth enters the cut, the shear force is so great that tooth breakage occurs - and frequently results in multiple tooth carnage. (This also holds true (especially) with band saw blades as well. Many of you have experienced the catastrophic failure of a lot of teeth when using a large toothed saw blade in too thin of material.)

*The 6TPI constant tooth has the broadest range of effectiveness and will give most users the least amount of grief when notching standard size wall thicknesses i.e..083, .095, .120 etc. They are less “catchy” or “grabby” and less likely to wrench that drill out of your hand that you’re using. In the construction business it would be comparable to a wood circular combination blade – overall a good cutting blade but not the best for ripping and not best for fine crosscutting however it can do both effectively well.

*The 10 TPI fine tooth is the best choice for tubing .065 and thinner. In fact, for very thin material it might be the only possible holesaw for the job unless you have tube support very close to the cut. And even then it's probable that the tube will flex and catch and destroy both the tube and hole saw. Most all hole saw-type notchers do not support the tube close enough to the cut to effectively notch thin-wall.

*As a side note - do not attempt to use carbide hole saws, annular cutters or end mills in a standard notcher. They will most assuredly self destruct (and they’re not cheap!). These type cutters need the rigidity of a mill or mag-drill.)

*Get into the habit, before each cut, of checking all points of your notcher that may become loose. Make sure to secure the work piece so no shifting of any part will take place. Again this is probably the most common reason for early retirement of a hole saw.

*As a general rule, the larger the diameter hole saw - the slower the speed.
1” ............. 350RPM
1-1/2 ........ 230RPM
1-3/4 ........ 195RPM
2” ............. 170RPM
One exception would be when notching thin-wall material. A faster speed would prove to be less of a chance of the hole saw catching on the tube.

*Use a proper cutting oil. Motor oil is not a cutting fluid!

*Do not “dive” into a cut. Ease into the material and allow the saw to pace its self. You should be able to “feel” how much pressure to apply.

*Hole saws can quite often be “out-of-round” as a matter of speaking because of a wayward tooth on the weld joint. Filing it down from the side (not the top!) will not damage the saw but give you a truer cut.

*Also get into the habit of checking after each notch to clear any remnant pieces of tube that may lodge and remain inside the hole saw. There's nothing more unexpected than to have one of those pieces engage and bring your project to an abrupt halt!

YouTube Page

2008-10-24T11:42:00.000-07:00

We created a YouTube page to host the Syncnotcher videos. The page showcases the different features, as well as notching capabilities of the Sync180 tube notcher. We will be updating the videos often.

http://www.youtube.com/syncnotcher

Fabtech 2008

2008-10-10T15:00:00.000-07:00

We were proud to showcase the Sync180 tube notcher at the FabTech show in Las Vegas. Fabtech is North America's largest metal forming, fabricating, tube & pipe and welding trade show.

It was a successful show and we met a lot of great people. Thanks to everybody who stopped by the booth to check out the sync notcher.

Welcome to our Blog

2008-09-16T09:24:00.000-07:00

We are excited to launch our official Blog. Here you will find updates, pictures, videos and other additions to the Syncnotching system and tube notcher