Radial cutting tools for cutting thick-walled tubular members
Relatively thick-walled (or solid) tubular members may be cut by cutting tools which include a frame assembly which is concentrically positionable (either interiorly or exteriorly) relative to the tubular member to be cut. A radial cutting assembly defines a cutting plane and is connected to the frame so as to be rotationally movable about the longitudinal axis of the tubular member to be cut. The radial cutting assembly carries a bit subassembly (preferably a pair of generally radially opposed cutting assemblies) for cutting the tubular member. A drive/indexing assembly is provided so as to rotate the rotatable ring (and thereby cause the radial cutting assembly to move orbitally about said tubular member), and index the bit radially toward the tubular member in response to rotational movement of the radial cutting assembly.