Types of Cable Cutters

Types of Cable Cutters

Cable cutters are specialized tools designed for cutting cables, featuring two blades that cross and open or close. As large scissors, cable cutters are designed using the principles of leverage and the inverse relationship between pressure and area. To improve strength and convenience, traditional manual cable cutters have evolved into ratchet cable cutters, followed by hydraulic cable cutters, electric hydraulic cable cutters, and fully electric cable cutters.

1. Manual Cable Cutters
   Manual cable cutters resemble standard scissors but are larger with longer handles, leveraging the principle of mechanical advantage. The blades are also stronger. While manual cable cutters can easily cut small cables, cutting larger ones requires considerable hand strength.

2. Ratchet Cable Cutters
   Ratchet cable cutters consist of a handle mechanism, cutting mechanism, and a driving system. The driving system uses two gears to move the toothed blade forward, gradually reducing the circular area formed by the cutting blades until the cable is severed. The gear drives the blade forward along a tangent line, distributing the force across multiple gear teeth, which helps prevent wear and extend the tool's lifespan.

3. Hydraulic Cable Cutters
   Hydraulic cable cutters feature a clamp with specially designed grooves, chain slots, and blade guides for both the moving and stationary blades. A hydraulic cylinder, equipped with a plunger, is inserted into the grooves. The left end of the moving blade is connected to the right end of the plunger through a return disc. During use, the cable or chain is placed in the slot, and high-pressure fluid is injected into the hydraulic cylinder. The pressure forces the plunger to move the blade, which works with the stationary blade to generate the cutting force, severing the cable.

Each type of cutter is designed to handle different sizes and types of cables, offering varying levels of ease, precision, and efficiency.