Cutting sheet metal

This topic has 5 replies, 5 voices, and was last updated 13 December 2015 at 11:16 by Michael Cox 1.

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12 December 2015 at 16:49 #216060
Shed Happens
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@shedhappens
Hi, looking for advice on what type of sheer to get for general sheet metal cutting. Seen a few different types …

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/WNS-Hand-Throatless-Shear-Curved-Blade-Cropper-Multipurpose-Metal-Cutting-Tool-/221838477813

Or

http://www.warco.co.uk/Shears/87-plate-shears.html

Or this

http://www.warco.co.uk/sheet-metal-fabrication-machinery-metalwork/303009-bench-guillotine-shear-cut-sheet-metal.html

I'm asumming this last one will give the best cut with no curling but is limited to complete cuts.

The others would I think be able to cut the rectangle out the corner before using a pan brake but I'm not sure if they distort the sheet much.

Any thoughts and experiences of the above types – or guidance on how best to cut out those rectangles when making a pan would be appeciated.

P.s. anyone out there near St Neots/ Cambridge?

Thx

John

Edited By Shed Happens on 12/12/2015 17:02:07
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12 December 2015 at 16:49 #7909
Shed Happens
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@shedhappens
12 December 2015 at 18:44 #216075
Speedy Builder5
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@speedybuilder5
I have had a second hand set of straight bench shears for over 20 years, used for all sorts of abuse cutting sheet and flat steel bar up to 5mm . When the sheet is too big for the workshop, I bolt it down to a plank and work in the garden. For me, the gulitine type are limited on width, the curved limited on thickness. You may also see shears with circular wheels of which I have no experience. Certainly, straight shears will remove your corner rectangles so long as you drill a small hole in the corner first (Which is good practice anyway).
BobH
12 December 2015 at 20:51 #216099
Anonymous
John: I'm afraid I can't comment on the 'linked to' shears, as I have no experience of them. However, I can confirm that the guillotine style one should shear straight; or at least my larger guillotine shears without curving the cut part.

As for the PS the answer is yes. I live between Cambridge and Cambourne, so if you would like to meet up that would be fine.

Andrew
13 December 2015 at 09:25 #216144
Ian S C
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@iansc
It depends on how much steel you propose to cut, if you are going into production in a reasonably large way, go for the most suitable machine, if not an angle grinder with a 1 mm cut off wheel, and some angle iron and a couple of clamps for a guide will do the job.

Ian S C
13 December 2015 at 11:16 #216162
Michael Cox 1
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@michaelcox1
If it is for occasional metal cutting you could consider a nibbler. You can even make cut outs in the centre of panels!

I bought a cheap nibbler attachment for an electric drill and i have been very impressed with it both for speed and for producing a clean distortion free edges.

I modified it to make it easier to use freehand, see:

http://mikesworkshop.weebly.com/nibbler.html

I also made a table for it in order to make precise cuts on small parts, see:

http://mikesworkshop.weebly.com/a-nibbler-table.html

Mike
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