Different Types of Shearing Machines Used in the Industry

A shearing machine is a tool used in the metal fabrication industry to cut metal plates into the necessary shapes and sizes. The components of this machine consist of blades, pulleys, baffles, and an electrical control system. This machine’s die, which is used to cut various materials, comes in a variety of configurations, with the most common being two blades: straight and round blades.

Shearing procedures are often employed in a variety of sectors, including automotive and aerospace manufacturing, machinery production, home appliance manufacturing, and construction.

What are the various types of shearing machines?

Here are some common types of shears that vary by driving mode:

Manual Sheet Metal Shearing Machine.

Manual sheet metal rotates the blade up and down to cut plates. These shears are driven by hand, simple to use, and ideal for cutting small plates. Their cutting precision is limited and cannot satisfy the needs of large plates.

Hydraulic shearing machines.

The hydraulic shear tool is driven by a hydraulic cylinder and motor. The motor powers the hydraulic cylinder, which applies hydraulic oil pressure to the piston and supplies power to the top blade’s piston.

The hydraulic shear has a longer stroke and can accommodate a variety of load capacities. Materials cut with a hydraulic machine have a smooth surface with few marks. These machines are renowned for their high shearing force, steady operation, and excellent controllability.

Mechanical shearing machines.

This is another types of shears and is powered by a motor, flywheel, worm shaft, and clutch. It has higher cutting rates and strokes per minute than the hydraulic shear.

The mechanical machine’s flywheel stores energy, allowing for the use of a lower-horsepower engine. These machines are classified into two categories based on their operating mode: up-moving and down-moving.

Bench shearing machines

A bench shear is a cutting machine that is often used to create rough forms from medium-sized pieces of sheet metal. Bench shears, like alligator shears, are not suitable for delicate work and are often used when accuracy is not required. Bench shears are tiny, lightweight, and highly durable, making them ideal for facilities and garages with little space. The cutting blades may be changed to produce 90-degree cuts on angles, T-sections, and round/square bars.

Alligator shearing machines

Alligator shears, also known as crocodile shears or lever shears, are called by their movable jaw, which is operated by a flywheel or hydraulic cylinder. The jaws can be 4 to 36 inches long and used to cut long metal stock or trash, such as steel pipe, rebar, angle iron, and I-beams. Alligator shears are not extremely exact and are typically used when precision is not a major concern. They are also commonly used in the metal recycling business to “clean” or prepare waste for shredding by eliminating any unnecessary fittings that the metal shredder machine would not accept.

Guillotine shearing machines.

A guillotine shear, also known as a power shear operates similarly to its namesake: the material is clamped down with a ram, and a moving blade comes down across a fixed blade to cut the material. In bigger guillotine shears, the moving blade can be adjusted at an angle, or “rocked,” to shear the material gradually from one side to the other, at an angle known as the “shear angle.” Depending on the size and capacity of the machine, guillotine shears can be powered by foot, hand, or mechanical/hydraulic means.
If you want to buy a shearing machine, contact Leo Engineers! Browse our high-quality shear tools on our website. Contact us today to learn more about our types of shears

Leo Engineers

Leo Engineers has been providing top-notch solutions for fabrication and other industries that require precise cutting since 1996. Our shearing machines and blades are known for producing high-quality cuts and exceptional reliability.