Two-stage method of cutting ultra-high strength material sheet

A two-stage method of cutting an interior opening in ultra-high strength material sheet comprising:

• forming at least one shear initiation breakthrough opening through the ultra-high strength material sheet at an interior location, each of the at least one shear initiation breakthrough opening formed with a shear initiation breakthrough opening forming tool;
• positioning a leading terminal end of each of at least two inclined shearing edges of an interior opening shearing tool, which is different from the shear initiation breakthrough opening forming tool, in the at least one shear initiation breakthrough opening;
• after positioning, initiating shearing of the material from the at least one shear initiation breakthrough opening by advancing the at least two inclined shearing edges of the interior opening shearing tool against the ultra-high strength material sheet and relative to a corresponding shearing die.