Materials suitable for guillotine shear cutting include a wide range of metals and alloys that can be processed precisely using these versatile machines. Knowing which materials can be cut with guillotine shears helps optimize production and ensures high quality of finished parts.

In this practical guide, we explain what guillotine shears are, how the cutting process works, and which materials are best suited for this type of processing. You will also learn what affects cut quality and when it is worth choosing CNC guillotine shears to increase precision and production efficiency.

What Are Guillotine Shears?

Sheet metal guillotine shears are machines designed for precise straight-line cutting of metal sheets. Using two blades—one fixed and one moving—the machine separates the material quickly without causing excessive deformation.

Depending on design and drive technology, guillotine shears come in several variants:

Types of guillotine shears:

  • Mechanical shears – a classic solution based on a mechanical drive

  • Hydraulic shears – enable cutting thicker and harder materials with less effort

  • CNC guillotine shears – modern, computer-controlled machines that allow precise setting of cutting parameters and full process automation

Each type is chosen depending on material, required precision, and production intensity.

How Guillotine Shears Work

Sheet cutting with guillotine shears involves cutting the material by applying force between two blades: one fixed and one moving. A key feature of this method is straight-line cutting, which delivers smooth, clean edges without the need for additional finishing.

How the cutting process works:

  1. Material positioning – the metal sheet is placed on the working table and held by clamps/hold-down cylinders

  2. Blade movement – the moving blade travels downward, cutting the material along the set line

  3. Part removal – the cut piece drops onto a receiving table or is moved to the next operation

Guillotine-based sheet cutting offers high productivity, minimal deformation, and low operating costs—especially in serial production.

In modern plants, CNC guillotine shears also allow automatic setting of cut length, cut angle, and clamping force, further improving precision and efficiency.

What Materials Can Be Cut with Guillotine Shears?

Operator positioning a metal sheet in a press brake for precision bending in an industrial workshop.

Materials for guillotine shear cutting include many metals and alloys with different mechanical properties, hardness, and thickness. Thanks to their versatility, guillotine shears for sheet metal are used in both light and heavy metalworking.

So in practice—what can be cut with guillotine shears?

Cutting mild steel and stainless steel

Cutting steel with guillotine shears is one of the most common industrial applications.

  • Structural steel, mild steel, and stainless steel in various thicknesses

  • Typical cutting thickness: from 0.5 mm up to even 20 mm (depending on the machine model)

  • Used in steel structures, electrical cabinets, and machine components

Cutting aluminum and light alloys

Cutting aluminum with a guillotine requires precise adjustment of the cutting force due to the lower hardness of the material.

  • Aluminum and light alloys are prone to deformation if the cutting force is too high

  • Typical uses: decorative parts, enclosures, façade panels

  • Thickness range: from 0.5 mm up to approx. 12 mm

Cutting copper, brass, and other non-ferrous metals

What can a guillotine shear cut besides steel and aluminum?

  • Copper, brass, bronze – popular in decorative production, installation components, and architectural structures

  • Non-ferrous metals require a sharp blade and precise parameter settings to avoid edge defects

With correct settings and proper tooling, guillotine shears can process a wide range of materials safely and efficiently—without damaging the surface.

What Affects Cutting Quality?

To ensure that guillotine shear cutting is fast, accurate, and does not damage the material, several key technical factors must be considered.

Main factors influencing cut quality:

🔹 Material hardness
Harder materials (e.g., stainless steel) require more cutting force and more accurate setup.
Softer materials like aluminum or brass need gentler adjustment to avoid deformation.

🔹 Sheet thickness
Every guillotine has a maximum cutting capacity. Exceeding it risks blade damage and poorer edge quality.
Cutting thin sheet (steel or aluminum) also requires matching pressure and cutting speed.

🔹 Blade condition
Blades must be sharp and correctly aligned.
Dull or misadjusted blades cause burrs, microcracks, and uneven edges.

🔹 Machine setup precision
Accurate settings for rake angle, hold-down pressure, and sheet guidance matter greatly.
With CNC guillotine shears, modern controls significantly reduce setup errors.

CNC Guillotine Shears – When Is It Worth Choosing Them?

Industrial sheet metal guillotine shear machine in a factory workshop with metal plates on a worktable.

In modern industry, CNC guillotine shears are increasingly chosen over traditional mechanical or hydraulic machines. Automation delivers not only higher precision, but also significantly improved productivity and repeatability.

Why choose CNC?

🔹 Precise parameter control
Programming cut length, angle, and clamping force with accuracy down to tenths of a millimeter—ideal for serial production.

🔹 Process automation
Fast changeovers between different lengths and materials, saving time and reducing operator error.

🔹 High cut quality
CNC guillotine cutting provides smooth edges with fewer burrs and less need for secondary finishing.

🔹 Ability to process various materials
Thanks to intelligent settings, CNC shears can handle mild steel, stainless steel, aluminum, and copper more reliably.

Where do CNC shears perform best?

  • Electrical cabinet manufacturing

  • Automotive and aerospace

  • Steel structure and construction component production

  • Precision components for home appliances and electronics

Where productivity, repeatability, and lower unit cost matter, sheet cutting automation becomes a major advantage.

Guillotine Shears in Modern Production

As you can see, materials suitable for guillotine shear cutting include a broad range of metals—from steel and aluminum to non-ferrous metals. With the right machine and properly selected settings, you can achieve clean edges, minimal deformation, and full production repeatability.

In today’s industry, CNC guillotine shears play a key role in automating cutting processes, offering not only better precision but also flexibility across various materials.

If you are considering investing in modern sheet cutting solutions, contact us. We will help you choose the right guillotine shear for your production—matched to your materials and production requirements.