How to make a simple machine for shaped cutting of metal from a drill
The nibbler attachment on your drill, also known as the “cricket”, is very effective for cutting sheet metal and performing shape cuts. However, it is not possible to work with it with high precision on small parts. To use the Cricket’s capabilities to the fullest, it’s worth making a machine for it.
The tabletop of the machine needs to be made from sheet steel. It can be rectangular or trimmed on one side to form a trapezoid. The size of the tabletop is selected depending on how large the workpieces will have to be cut on the machine in the future.
Next you need to make a mount for the drill. It is a clamp on a stand. The clamp is made of a steel pipe, the internal diameter of which is sufficient to clamp the cylindrical body of the drill in front of the chuck. A narrow ring is cut from the tube, then it is cut and a nut is welded onto its edges.After this, the bolt is screwed into the nuts, and the clamp is ready. Before doing this, you need to cut off the thread in one nut on the side of the bolt head with a drill.
The resulting clamp must be welded onto the rack. A piece of profile pipe can be used as it. Its end is machined into a semicircle, and a clamp is welded to it.
The stand is welded to the back of the tabletop.
Its height should be such that after installing the drill in the clamp and clamping the “Cricket” in its chuck, the cutting part of its knife protrudes above the tabletop. It is necessary to align the stand so that the clamped scissors are located at the trapezoidal part of the tabletop.
At the next stage, the frame of the machine in the form of a cube is welded from a profile pipe.
It should be smaller than the tabletop so that it extends beyond its trapezoidal part. The front side of the machine is cut from sheet steel.
A hole is drilled in it for the shank of the cricket, and a similar clamp is partially welded around it. It will clamp the nozzle. Then the sidewall is welded to the frame.
Next, you need to install the tabletop and make a cutout in it for the outlet of the “Cricket” knife. It is sawed lengthwise on the part of the tabletop protruding beyond the frame. The tabletop itself is screwed to the base using countersunk screws. You can also install plastic plugs on the open ends of the profile pipes in the frame, and cover everything with paint.
To use the machine, you need to turn it over and clamp the drill in the clamp under the tabletop. Then insert the shank of the nozzle through the hole in the sidewall and press it into the chuck. The “Cricket” body is fixed with a clamp on the sidewall.
The resulting machine allows you to make precise shape cutting on small workpieces made of sheet steel.The cut from it is smooth and without bends, since the part rests on the tabletop. Depending on the modification of the nozzle, it takes sheet steel up to 1.5-1.8 mm thick.
Materials:
- attachment for drill nibblers, buy on AliExpress - ;
- drill;
- Sheet steel;
- profile pipe 20x20 mm;
- countersunk head screw 6 pcs.;
- steel pipe.
Making a cutting machine
The tabletop of the machine needs to be made from sheet steel. It can be rectangular or trimmed on one side to form a trapezoid. The size of the tabletop is selected depending on how large the workpieces will have to be cut on the machine in the future.
Next you need to make a mount for the drill. It is a clamp on a stand. The clamp is made of a steel pipe, the internal diameter of which is sufficient to clamp the cylindrical body of the drill in front of the chuck. A narrow ring is cut from the tube, then it is cut and a nut is welded onto its edges.After this, the bolt is screwed into the nuts, and the clamp is ready. Before doing this, you need to cut off the thread in one nut on the side of the bolt head with a drill.
The resulting clamp must be welded onto the rack. A piece of profile pipe can be used as it. Its end is machined into a semicircle, and a clamp is welded to it.
The stand is welded to the back of the tabletop.
Its height should be such that after installing the drill in the clamp and clamping the “Cricket” in its chuck, the cutting part of its knife protrudes above the tabletop. It is necessary to align the stand so that the clamped scissors are located at the trapezoidal part of the tabletop.
At the next stage, the frame of the machine in the form of a cube is welded from a profile pipe.
It should be smaller than the tabletop so that it extends beyond its trapezoidal part. The front side of the machine is cut from sheet steel.
A hole is drilled in it for the shank of the cricket, and a similar clamp is partially welded around it. It will clamp the nozzle. Then the sidewall is welded to the frame.
Next, you need to install the tabletop and make a cutout in it for the outlet of the “Cricket” knife. It is sawed lengthwise on the part of the tabletop protruding beyond the frame. The tabletop itself is screwed to the base using countersunk screws. You can also install plastic plugs on the open ends of the profile pipes in the frame, and cover everything with paint.
To use the machine, you need to turn it over and clamp the drill in the clamp under the tabletop. Then insert the shank of the nozzle through the hole in the sidewall and press it into the chuck. The “Cricket” body is fixed with a clamp on the sidewall.
The resulting machine allows you to make precise shape cutting on small workpieces made of sheet steel.The cut from it is smooth and without bends, since the part rests on the tabletop. Depending on the modification of the nozzle, it takes sheet steel up to 1.5-1.8 mm thick.
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