Apparatuses and methods for cutting porous substrates

Abstract

Apparatuses and methods for cutting a sample piece, having a shape and an outer dimension, out of a porous substrate, comprising: a puncher having an outermost dimension at a punch head; a stripping sleeve; a die having an innermost dimension that is larger than the outermost dimension of the punch head; and a fixture that holds the die in a fixed position relative to the puncher and stripping sleeve.

1 . An apparatus for cutting a sample piece, having a shape and an outer dimension, out of a porous substrate, comprising:
 a puncher having an outermost dimension at a punch head;   a stripping sleeve;   a die having an innermost dimension that is larger than the outermost dimension of the punch head; and   a fixture that holds the die in a fixed position relative to the puncher and stripping sleeve,   wherein the apparatus further comprises one or more guides and one or more channels corresponding to the one or more guides and   wherein the fixture comprises a pillar that comprises a seat for the one or more guides, and the one or more channels are located on the stripping sleeve.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the stripping sleeve is spring loaded and is coaxially located between an inner surface of the stripping sleeve and an outer surface of the puncher. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the puncher is seated in the pillar, and the pillar and puncher are removeable from the fixture by disengaging engaging components, wherein at least one of the engaging components comprises a set screw. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a roller sleeve that supports a ball bearing cage through which the pillar can move. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the fixture is a c-frame fixture that holds the die in a fixed position relative to the puncher and the stripping sleeve. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the punch head is configured to pass through the die and a bottom of the c-frame fixture in a fully extended position. 
     
     
         7 . An apparatus for cutting a sample piece, having a shape and an outer dimension, out of a porous substrate, comprising:
 a puncher having an outermost dimension at a punch head;   a stripping sleeve;   a die having an innermost dimension that is larger than the outermost dimension of the punch head, wherein the die has an upper end and a lower end and an inner diameter that is larger on the lower end than an inner diameter on the upper end, wherein the inner diameter of the die increases gradually from the upper end to the lower end; and   a fixture that holds the die in a fixed position relative to the puncher and the stripping sleeve.   
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , further comprising one or more guides and one or more channels that engage the one or more guides, wherein the fixture comprises a pillar on which the one or more channels are located, and the one or more guides are seated on the stripping sleeve. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , further comprising a roller sleeve that supports a ball bearing cage through which the pillar can move. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the roller sleeve is supported by an upper arm of the fixture, wherein the fixture is a c-frame fixture further comprises a lower arm that supports the die. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the punch head is configured to pass through the die and a bottom of the c-frame fixture in a fully extended position; 
     
     
         12 . An apparatus for cutting a sample piece, having a shape and an outer dimension, out of a porous substrate, comprising:
 a puncher having an outermost dimension at a punch head;   a stripping sleeve;   a die having an innermost dimension that is larger than the outermost dimension of the punch head;   a fixture that holds the die in a fixed position relative to the puncher and stripping sleeve, wherein the die has an upper end and a lower end and an inner diameter that is larger on the lower end than an inner diameter on the upper end;   one or more guides and one or more channels corresponding to the one or more guides and wherein the fixture comprises a pillar that comprises a seat for the one or more guides, and the one or more channels are located on the stripping sleeve; and   a spring positioned on an interior of the pillar and the stripping sleeve and about the puncher.   
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the inner diameter of the die increases gradually from the upper end to the lower end. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the stripping sleeve is spring loaded and has a shoulder against which the spring presses. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the puncher is seated in the pillar, and the pillar and puncher are removeable from the fixture by disengaging engaging components, wherein at least one of the engaging components comprises a set screw. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , further comprising a ball bearing cage positioned coaxially within the fixture through which the pillar can move. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , further comprising a roller ball cage positioned coaxially within the fixture, wherein the pillar is positioned coaxially within the roller ball cage and positioned about the stripping sleeve. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein the ball bearing cage is supported by a roller sleeve. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein the fixture is a c-frame fixture having an upper arm that supports the roller sleeve and a lower arm that supports the die. 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein the punch head is configured to pass through the die and a bottom of the c-frame fixture in a fully extended position.