ABSTRACT
As the metal strip enters the knives (Step 1 in Fig. 1), the knives penetrate the strip (Step 2) until the forces exceed the ultimate tensile strength (UTS) of the material and the strip separates (Step 3). The penetration is commonly called the ''nick'' and the separation is called the ''break'' or ''fracture.'' The depth of penetration is determined by the UTS of the material and its relationship to the yield strength and thickness of the strip.
