Profile: American Machine Tools Corp. is a supplier of metalworking machine tools. Our products include HVAC duct machines, press brake machine, sheet metal hand brake, hydraulic metal shear, hydraulic ironworker, metal cutting bandsaw, and CNC lathes. Metal shearing machine is used for cutting sheet metal to size, out of a larger flat stock or from roll stock. The metal to be cut is held in place with hold-downs. 90° cuts are positioned by a squaring arm with scale on it, or with a back gauge. Other angles are possible with an angle gauge. Large machines with shadow cut line have a light that shines over a wire which projects a thin shadow line exactly where the cut line is, which is useful if the metal is marked with a tape measure. The shearing process can produce a shear edge burr, which can be minimized to less than 10% of the material thickness. This is a function of clearance between the blades, and the sharpness of the cutting blades.