The SPITFIRE is a portable split-frame lathe built for weld-prep machining on pipe and other cylindrical workpieces. It severs, bevels and counterbores in one setup, without repositioning the machine. Common jobs include cutting pipe to length, removing damaged or corroded sections, and machining fresh bevels or counterbores on pipe ends, in the field or in the shop.

Ring assembly weight ranges from about 52 lbs. for the 6" ring to over 333 lbs. for the 72" ring. Operating weight is higher once you add a tool module and drive motor. Rings 14" and larger include lifting eyebolts for rigging.

The SPITFIRE goes from case to cutting quickly, with the entire setup handled by a single 1/2" wrench. The ring joins with swing bolts and mounts on four indexed mounting pads, which give a quick visual reference for concentric mounting. The drive motor and mounting-pad extensions attach without tools. The tool module slides into any position without moving the tripper module, and a rapid feed knob positions tooling before the cut and retracts it after.

Each SPITFIRE clamshell ships with two spacers for sever-blade positioning. Each bevel holder comes with its own removable wear plate/spacer, insert retaining screws and an insert installation tool. Tooling is sold separately.

Available modules and accessories include:

• OD Tracking Module (ODTM): Follows the pipe's outside diameter during the cut, keeping a consistent prep on out-of-round or thin-wall pipe and allowing limited mitering.
• Template Tracer Module (TTM): Guides a single-point cutter using an interchangeable template, from a simple straight bevel to compound bevels for thick-wall and narrow-groove preps.
• Full Support Pads (FSP): Profiled mounting pad sets that spread clamping load across a larger area, for thin-wall pipe that could deform under standard pads.

The ODTM, TTM and FSP will be available soon. The CBM3 and CBM6 counterbore modules are available now.

Cutting speed is adjustable, with a surface-speed range of roughly 250 to 1,000 surface inches per minute (SIPM) depending on frame size. Use the lower end for stainless, chrome-moly and heavy-wall material, and the upper end for free-cutting materials with carbide. On 18" Schedule 60 carbon steel pipe with standard sever and Onyx tooling, the SPITFIRE severs in 10 minutes, bevels in just over 9 minutes, and severs and bevels together in under 16 minutes. Actual cut time depends on diameter, wall thickness, material and feed rate.

Cold cutting machines the pipe with a rotating tool instead of heat or flame. That means no open flame, no sparks and no heat-affected zone (HAZ) in the material. It's widely chosen where hot-work permits, fire watches or sensitive atmospheres make torch cutting impractical. It also leaves a clean, square, weld-ready surface without heat distortion.

Before and after each use, wipe the machine down, check for damage or loose parts, and lightly oil the tool module feed screw and slide rails. Every 40 hours of operation, inspect and lubricate the drive pinion and headstock gear, headstock bearings, automatic locking pins and tripper block assembly. The full schedule is in the operation manual.

The SPITFIRE is about 25% lighter than Tri Tool Technologies' RBL-G2 split-frame lathe without giving up strength. Its ring uses a rigid, lightweight beam-like frame, the main gear rides on roughly twice the bearing support, and the gears have a harder surface treatment for better wear resistance. It also adds single-wrench setup, automatic locking pins, Onyx insert tooling and a no-crash feed design. Existing Tri Tool Technologies can be used on the SPITFIRE.