Shear Training
& Troubleshooting

Blade gap is typically 5–10% of material thickness. Cutting 6 mm mild steel, the gap should sit roughly between 0.3 mm and 0.6 mm. There is no single correct setting — tensile strength and hardness affect the required clearance, so the gap should be reset whenever material or gauge changes.

The two common causes are a blade gap that is too wide, which makes the material tear rather than shear cleanly, and blades that have gone dull. Check and correct the gap first because it costs nothing, then assess blade condition.

Excessive rake angle. Rake is the tilt of the upper blade that lets the cut progress across the sheet rather than shearing the full length at once, but too much of it distorts the strip. Reducing rake angle is the primary correction for both twist and camber.

Most shear blades are through-hardened tool steel and can be sharpened many times. Standard blades are also four-edge reversible, giving four usable cutting edges before the set is consumed. Replace when there are deep nicks or cracks, when sharpening no longer restores cut quality, or when roughly 0.005–0.006″ has been removed.

For straight rectangular blanks a fiber laser can technically do the work, but it is slower per cut, costs more to operate, and consumes expensive laser capacity. For squaring sheets and blanking, a shear remains more economical. For any non-straight geometry the laser is the only option — the two machines are complementary rather than competing.

Yes. Rise Tek technicians service shearing machines across major brands, covering blade gap setup, blade replacement, hydraulic service and back gauge calibration. Submit a service request describing the machine and the fault and the team will advise on the fastest path.