Work Material

Work material is the metal being processed by the shear, and its properties, alloy composition, temper, thickness, width, surface condition, dictate every aspect of the cutting setup and operation. Before any shearing job begins, the setup technician must identify the exact material grade, measure or confirm the gauge, and assess the material's condition (surface cleanliness, any preexisting damage, flatness).

Different materials behave vastly differently during shearing: soft aluminum is easy to cut but prone to flatness distortion; stainless steel requires high force and dull blades quickly; and hardened alloy steel can be brittle and prone to chipping. The machine operator then adjusts blade clearance, clamp pressure, and possibly blade rake angle based on the specific work material, and may need to select an alternate cutting method entirely if the material falls outside the machine's cutting capacity or if the application demands superior edge quality available from laser cutting or CNC machining.