What Shearing means
Shearing cuts sheet in a straight line between two blades, one fixed and one driven, with no chips and no kerf — the blades simply shear the material apart. It is the first operation in most fabricated work: full sheets come in, and shearing turns them into square blanks sized for the parts nested on them.
Why it matters on the shop floor
The cut edge carries a characteristic fracture band and a slight burr, and the cut line is straight only — contours need laser or punching. What shearing buys is speed and material discipline: it is fast, it is cheap, and it decides how cleanly the rest of the nest fits the sheet.
What to remember
- Straight cuts only; every contour goes to laser or punching.
- Edge quality carries a roll-over and fracture band — critical edges get finished later.
- Blade gap is set per material and thickness; wrong gap means a heavy burr.