Many shear users depend on important standard features and optional accessories that can increase their productivity. This increased productivity can come in many forms: labor savings, better material flow, increased accuracy, better cut quality that can prevent the need for secondary operations, and most important, improved safety. Items that can help to increase productivity include:

1. Squaring arms. A squaring arm is used for squaring the sheet for a trim cut. It can also be used, depending on its configuration, for front gauging and support of longer sheets.

2. Support arms. Support arms are used to support material in the front of the machines and, with the proper front gauging stops, can be used for measuring the cut part.

3. Stops. Different types of stops, such as swing stops and disappearing stops, are used on the squaring and support arms. The stops are used for front gauging the material. Generally, the disappearing stops are the more widely used stops on front support arms. Disappearing stops allow the plate to be fed over the stop, which becomes recessed and flush with the top of the machine's table and then pops up when there is no more material on top of the stop.

4. Programmable backgauges. A programmable backgauge allows the backgauge dimension to be set and, because it is a programmable device, can possibly control other accessories.

5. Sheet support device. This device (some include the front support arms or front squaring arm as a sheet support device) is generally located behind the blades to hold up the material to the backgauge and support it to prevent sagging and assure an accurate cut. When a sheet support device is used to support the material, the sequence is as follows: the foot pedal is stepped on; the hold-downs come down and clamp the material; the front support device moves or falls down out of the way; the material is cut. Upon completion of the cycle, the process reverses to the neutral position so that the next cut can be made.

6. Manual or power front-operated backgauge. This backgauge is used to adjust the setting of the backgauge dimension to control the size of the pieces dropping behind the blades.

7. Different types of blade material to provide maximum blade life. Depending on the type of material that is being cut, different types of blades are available. The goal is to provide the best and most long-term blade life for the dollars invested.

8. Manual blade gap adjustment. Current blade gap adjustments allow the operator to set the machine at the proper blade gap setting for thickness, type, and dimension of the material that is being cut. It is preferable for this adjustment to be made from one side of the machine. On certain types of machines, the gap adjustment has to be made from each end frame, adding the possibility for an error if both adjustments are not the same.

9. Power blade gap adjustment. The power blade gap adjustment adjusts the blade gap with a motor. This adjustment can often be controlled by a computer control on the machine after the parameters for thickness, type of material, and size to be cut are entered into the controller.

10. Ball transfers. Ball transfers are the accessories mounted on the machine’s table to facilitate movement of the plate. These are especially advantageous when shearing thicker material.

11. Conveyer/stacker/scrap separator unit. A conveyor/stacker unit is added to the back of the machine. The conveyor moves the material either down into a stacking unit or, in certain cases, will return the plate after it has been sheared back to the front of the machine for another cut. A scrap/separator attachment to a stacker/conveyor unit separates the trim cut or scrap material from the usable material.

12. Front return unit. This is a conveyor type of unit that feeds the material back to the front of the machine through the blade area so that subsequent cuts can be made from the piece.

13. Manual one-shot lube system. A manual lube system lubricates points on certain locations.

14. Automatic lube system. This system automatically provides the appropriate lubrication to the lubrication points on a systematic basis.

15. Gap in frame for slitting. A gap in the frame for slitting allows parts longer than the blade length to be cut.

16. Light beam/shearing line. This line is provided to facilitate cutting material on a scribed line. The operator marks the plate. The shadow line that is cast allows the operator to line up the scribed line with the edge of the blade for a more accurate cut.

17. Pads or similar device on bottom of hold-down. These devices can be added on the bottom of a hold-down to prevent marring the material.

18. Vibration isolation pads. Vibration isolation pads can be used to facilitate the installation of a shear, especially when it is not practical or feasible to put in a large pit when it is required.

19. Stroke adjustment. The stroke adjustment allows the operator to set the length of the cut.

20. High-speed devices. These devices increase the number of strokes per minute.