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What is Steel Cropping?

There are several different methods of cutting steel, of which cropping is one. This method utilises a specialised steel cropping machine. Cropping is ideal when the shape of the steel component you require allows a single line shearing to produce it from a strip of steel already sized to the width of the component. One of the greatest advantages of this cutting method is that it seldom, if ever, produces any scraps.

If you are looking for professional steel cropping services you can trust, turn to IMS. Thanks to our robust metal cropping machines and our skilled and knowledgeable team, we can process and deliver your order on time. Take advantage of the benefits of steel cropping with us.

Steel cropping services you can trust

If you are looking for professional steel cropping services you can trust, turn to IMS. Thanks to our robust metal cropping machines and our skilled and knowledgeable team, we can process and deliver your order on time. Take advantage of the benefits of steel cropping with us.

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What is the purpose of cropping steel?

The purpose of cropping steel is to produce a basic steel component using nothing more than a metal cropping machine with a basic shearing technique. Steel strips can also be cropped to prepare them for additional cutting and manufacturing processes. While the steel crop process requires a special machine, the process itself is uncomplicated and offers several benefits.

The process: How to crop steel

Most steel cropping machines are multi-functional, allowing you to crop, cut, bend, and punch steel. While most steel crops are made from flat sections or strips, these machines can also be used for angled, round, and square sections.

The steel crop process sees the steel section to be placed securely on the metal cropping machine’s work surface. A large cropping blade that functions like a pair of scissors cuts through the steel to produce cropped components. A stop can be used to cut steel to length accurately and quickly.

Benefits of cropping steel

Steel cropping machines are an important cutting tool in the steel industry, as the function they provide offers several benefits. These benefits include:

  • Cropping is suitable for thin steel sheets and softer metals: Thin steel sheets, as well as softer metals such as aluminium, brass, and bronze, require gentle cutting processes that won’t damage the metals. The blades in metal cropping machines do not grind, melt, saw, or heat up the metals when cutting them. This cutting method is a good choice if you need to cut thin steel into components.
  • Cropping produces minimal waste: Thanks to the precision offered by steel cropping machines, this cutting process produces minimal metal wastage. This makes cropping much more efficient than methods such as sawing and grinding.
  • Cropping provides straighter lines: The steel crop cutting method provides some of the straightest cuts of all cutting methods. This is thanks to the scissor-like action of the blade as well as the hold-downs that keep the steel secure on the machine’s work surface.
  • Cropping creates clear cuts: Cropping creates clean, smooth, and straight cuts. Few other steel cutting methods can match the smoothness that cropping offers. Even laser and plasma cutting cannot cut metal as smoothly as a premium metal cropping machine.
  • Cropping is suitable for high-output production: Cropping can be done faster than flaming, grinding, flaming, and plasma cutting. The efficiency, low cost, and speed of steel cropping machines make this option suitable for high-output production.
Posted by Craig Silvain
10th November 2023

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