Phoenix Contact Zero-Cut Block: Faster, Safer DIN Rail Cutting

Sometimes, the simplest tasks are the cause of most frustration. Some tasks seem easy and fast enough on paper but suddenly become a burden when performed in real life. One such task is measuring and cutting the DIN rail to install automation systems.

This is the very problem the Phoenix Contact Zero-Cut Block was designed to solve. Instead of tedious measuring, marking, and cutting, the Zero-Cut Block secures the DIN rail and performs repeatable cuts, giving installations a professional look. It drastically reduces installation time over manual measuring and cutting.

Cutting DIN Rail

Typically, DIN rail is measured with a tape measure, clamped in a vice, and then cut with a hand saw to size. When doing so, it is important, both from a professional look and from a mounting perspective, to cut through the perforations evenly. With repeated measurements and cutting, this can become quite tedious. If many sections of DIN rail are required, it is almost a guarantee that the technician will cut through the perforations unevenly, leading to unbalanced mounting schemes or scrap material. In all cases, the entire process is time-consuming and can generate waste.

A row of terminals mounted on DIN rail. Image used courtesy of Adobe Stock

Zero-Cut Block

Phoenix Contact has introduced the solution to these headaches. The Zero-Cut Block is a gripping and cutting device that reduces the fabrication time of DIN rail sections. Its design has a locking pin that grips the perforations in the same spot every time, ensuring uniform cuts. The device also has a magnetic grip that holds the DIN rail in place while the operator pushes down on a long lever to cut the bar. Measurement and cutting are performed on the same device, saving time and effort.

The Phoenix Contact Zero-Cut Block contains the block to specify spacing, the cutting lever, and multiple channels to accommodate different sizes of DIN rail. Image used courtesy of Phoenix Contact

The Zero-Cut block is designed to handle multiple sizes of DIN rail, including NS 35/7,5, NS 35/15, and NS 15. The long cutting lever gives the technician the leverage needed to cut through the DIN rail without requiring them to be a professional bodybuilder. The cutting block is adjustable, but once it is set, it can be left in place for many cuts.

Cutting or snapping the DIN rail in this manner reduces the chances of injury compared to using a handsaw or power saw. Clamping of the rail can be performed repeatedly without having to tighten and untighten a vice many times over or, even worse, using no vice at all. In terms of safety, the Zero-Cut Block reduces hazards significantly.

Final Thoughts

Maybe adding one small section of DIN rail doesn’t require a specialized cutter. The technician can measure it out and install it in a few minutes. However, if the entire plant or section of the plant is being retrofitted with DIN rail, suddenly, this task becomes quite tedious. Instead, Phoenix Contact’s Zero-Cut Block can be used to speed up and simplify the DIN rail cutting task drastically. It’s one of those devices that will save time and frustration that may not be appreciated fully until it is implemented.

Featured image used courtesy of Adobe Stock