Converting a Foot Shear to an Air Shear

most driven shears use a flywheel that is spun up by a small motor and they you use a clutch to grab some of that rotary energy and make the cut. Then the clutch is released and it free spins again.

You can store compressed air and then use it in a large cylinder to do the same thing.

Suggest you look at a machine of the type you want in operation and do not re-invent the wheel.

Probably possible to mount with the appropriate brackets a suitable trunnion mounted cyinder to replace the foot movement, I would use air over oil intesifier instead of just compressed air as it does just that, compresses , builds up pressure & then cuts thru with a bang ! I'd also fit a couple of sheet hold-downs if it doesn't already have them & two handed start buttons for safety.

Brien

Hi,

Go with hydraulic for saftey and long life considerations. It is also the best way to put heavy force into a small area. The guy that said, air will do the job with a bang, is correct. Since there are many types of shears that work in many different ways, you should better describe the task to accomplish and the machine you intend to modify.