How does an Appleton Cutter work?
Appleton cutters fall into two design families. The Universal Series Cutters (S210, A301, A400, P510) are mandrel machines. The parent core is slid onto a mandrel, advanced to the cut length required, rotated and cut. The core rotation is provided by a drive shaft internal to the mandrel. The drive shaft powers a clutch (head jaws) that expands to grip the internal surface of the core. The cutting action is typically provided by a fixed knife blade that advances slicing through the core. A carbide pad provides backing for the inner ply of the core, minimizing ply tear and ID neck-down. The fixed knife provides a clean, burnished cut with virtually no dust. (Appleton does offer free wheeling, driven and drag knife options.) The second design group (MDHS and P610) provides core rotation by gripping the end of the parent core. Again a fixed knife is most often used to slice through the core. A cutting pad supports the inner ply of the core. This design is used where a number of internal d
