What Is a Shear?
A shear is an electric tool for cutting metal sheets. The work of cutting with metal cutting scissors can be done more efficiently with motor power. Shears are mainly used at sheet metal processing sites. They are more suitable for cutting flat objects than curved or uneven objects.
The two blades on the top and bottom of the shear clamp onto the material and use shearing force to cut it.
The above cut using shearing force is called the shearing process. Below are the characteristics of common shearing processes:
- No chips are produced
- Material warps and burrs easily
How to Use Shears
In preparation before cutting, the shears are connected to a power source and adjusted to the thickness of the material to be cut.
Press the tip of the activated shears against the material to cut it. To cut a curved line, move the shears slowly as if using scissors.
The shears are moved from the front to the back.
When working with shears, be careful of the following:
- To avoid injury from touching the cutting edge of the shears, be sure to turn off the power when adjusting the cutting edge.
- Keep your hands away from the cutting edge of the shears during cutting.
- Do not place your hands in the direction of the cutting progress.
How to Select Shears
An important aspect of shears selection is to consider the type of shears and the material it is made of.
It is best to use two different types of shears depending on the intended use of the cut.
- Hand shears can cut through the material in a short time. On the other hand, they are prone to warping and burring.
- The straight shears are used when you want to cut straight. Compared to hand shears, straight shears produce chips more easily and are less prone to burrs.
It is necessary to make sure that the shear is compatible with the material thickness and material type. For stainless steel, the hand shears can handle material thicknesses up to 2.5mm, and the straight shears up to 1.2mm. Materials include copper, aluminum, and stainless steel.
In addition, shears are available in power-operated and rechargeable types. Considering the time of use, location, and other factors, it is advisable to consider whether a power supply or rechargeable type is better.
- The power supply type cannot be used in places where a power source is not available, thus limiting the work area.
- The rechargeable type requires charging in advance, but the workplace is not limited.