Koike Aronson PICLE 1-II Manual Pipe Cutting Machine

Hand-cranked oxy-fuel cutter for pipe in the field

The Koike Aronson PICLE 1-II is a manually driven gas pipe cutting machine. It wraps around the pipe on a chain of interlocking links and is cranked around the circumference through a worm gear, giving smooth, slow travel and a clean square or bevelled cut. Because it needs no electricity, it is suited to pipeline tie-ins, plant shutdowns and yard work where power is not available or not permitted.

The machine weighs 19.8 lb (9 kg), cuts walls up to 2 in (50 mm) and bevels up to 45 degrees. Fuel, preheat oxygen and cutting oxygen valves are mounted away from the heat but within easy reach of the operator.

Technical specifications

Set-up and cutting practice

Chain length is adjusted link by link to suit the pipe circumference, and extra chain extends the range beyond 24 in. Main components are the wing nut and spring that tension the chain, the torch with its gas valves, and the guide wheel; the machine can be placed at whichever point on the pipe is most convenient for the operator. Size the chain so the spring tension holds the guide wheels firmly against the pipe without slipping when the torch is cranked through the bottom of the cut.

The graduated bevel collar sets the torch angle for weld preparations. On bevel cuts the effective thickness is greater than the wall, so tip size should be selected for the slant length, not just the nominal wall. Clean scale and coating from the cut line, check that the pipe is empty and gas-free, and fit flashback arrestors on both hoses before lighting the torch.

A Snap Valve can be added for single-action gas shut-off, which saves gas between cuts and keeps the flame setting unchanged. Because the machine is driven by hand, travel speed depends on the operator; a steady crank rate matched to the tip size gives a smoother face and less slag than stopping and starting, and practice on an offcut of the same wall thickness is the quickest way to find the right rhythm. Where many identical cuts are needed, the Auto Picle S in the same Koike pipe-cutting range is worth comparing.

Documents and quotation

The Koike PICLE 1-II literature is attached under the documents tab. Other machines are listed under Pipe Cutting & Bevelling Machines.

For a quotation, give the pipe diameter range, fuel gas, tip sizes and whether additional chain or a Snap Valve is needed.