Pipe Cutting Jig attached to a 2x4 by GeoDave

Last crawled date: 3 years ago

I recently needed to cut 12 - 1/2" EMT (Electrical Metal Tubing) all the same lengths, so I came up with this simple holding bracket screwed to a 2"x4". I am using a Rigid 101 Tubing cutter http://www.homedepot.com/p/RIDGID-101-Tubing-Cutter-40617/100075014 . I made the bracket so it was a snug fit against the cutter. I printed 3 brackets for the size pipe I was using & a EMT_Cut_Jig_8mmSpacer_Rev4.stl. I only needed the third bracket when the pipe was really long.
You need 1 - 2"x4" a little longer than the pipe you are going to cut. The 2nd 2"x4" can be relatively short. I also used a small 1"x2" screwed to the end of the 2x4 so the pipe would butt up against it as shown in the photos. As the photos show, I marked the 2x4 where I wanted the cut to be & used the 8mm spacer to get the location of the bracket & used the wood screws I had on hand to mount the bracket. Once the 2 brackets are mounted, it is then very simple to attach the cutter tight in place & remove it from the brackets to cut it. When removing the pipe to cut, it is better to pull it away from the end before pulling it out so it will not scar up the 1x2 board at the end.
I included a customizable openscad file so you can make a bracket for most any diameter pipe. You could also use this for other pipe cutters, you will just need to measure it a little differently. There is a dimensioned image that shows the variables you might want to change in the openscad file. I made a STL file for the 3 main MPCNC style machines.