What Is Metal Cutting Shears?
Metal cutting shears is a general term for scissors and cutters used to cut metal materials. There are two types of metal cutters: manual hand scissors and air metal cutters, which are electrically operated by connecting a compressor or other power source.
Depending on the cutting application, the main body of the shears may be equipped with an optional auxiliary fixture, a two-blade metal cutter for achieving clean cutting surfaces, or a hole-punching nibbler cutter.
Inexpensive hand-scissors type cutters are available in the range starting from 1,000 yen and offer a wide variety of options. They can cut not only metal materials but also thick wool and surface tatami mats.
Uses of Metal Cutting Shears
The primary use of metal cutters is to cut steel and aluminum sheets. Electric air metal cutters can even cut very thick metal sheets, making them indispensable tools for building material processing. They produce beautifully finished cross sections on the cut surface, even with materials like galvalume corrugated sheets.
These cutters can also be used to cut not only metal and light metal sheets but also vinyl chloride sheets, carpets, and various other materials. They are also valuable as cutting tools for remodeling and hobby crafts. Furthermore, they are frequently used for three-dimensional fabrication of relatively soft metal materials such as aluminum and copper sheets.
Principles of Metal Cutting Shears
The long handles of manual type shears allow for easy application of force using the principle of leverage, making it possible to cut thin steel sheets. The fixed blade, which has a base supporting both ends of the shears, enables you to exert pressure on just one end of the handle and push the shears through thicker copper plates.
The length of the shears affects the amount of force required for cutting. Therefore, shorter blades with pedestals are more efficient for one-person work.
When working with materials of unreasonable thickness or curvature, it is recommended to use metal cutting shears with two cutting edges.
Electric metal cutting shears create two cutting lines, allowing you to cut both ends of the plate beautifully when splitting it. A notable feature of this two-blade-tip metal cutter is that it produces spiral tape dust when cutting.
Electric metal cutting shears, also known as nibbler cutters, can make holes in metal sheets by replacing the pointed end rods and can reproduce free curves in continuous cutting. Cordless hand-grip types are commercially available for complex tasks and are popular for their lightweight feel. The cutting edge is made of steel or ultra-hard alloy, and the tool is easy to maintain except for chipping.