A shear capacity will be less when cutting stainless steel.

• A. True
• B. False
• C. Not sure
• D. Sometimes

Answer: (A)

When you shear metal, the amount of force the setup can apply depends on the material’s resistance to shearing. Stainless steel has higher shear strength and tends to work-harden more than carbon steel, so it resists the shearing action more. Because of that greater resistance, the same punch and die setup can cut less material thickness before reaching its limit. In other words, the shear capacity for stainless steel is lower. This is why higher tonnage, different clearance, or a larger punch radius is often needed for stainless compared to carbon steel.