Variable rake shear

A variable rake shear comprising:

• a housing;
• a first blade mounting and a second blade mounting supported by the housing;
• a first blade mounted in the first blade mounting, and a second blade mounted in the second blade mounting;
• a torque tube linkage mechanism configured and operable for adjusting torque to control the balance of force on one of the first and second blade mountings;
• a control device configured and operable to control movement of one of the first and second blade mountings to cause the blades to shear a material;
• and
• a rake adjustment mechanism configured for adjusting the rake angle for at least one of the first and second blade mountings;
• wherein:
• each blade mounting is movable in at least one dimension relative to the housing;
• one of the first and second blades is an active blade and the other of the first and second blades is a passive blade;
• and
• the blade mounting for the active blade is attached to the torque tube linkage mechanism, which is configured and operable for adjusting torque to control the balance of force on the blade mounting for the active blade, as the blade mountings move the blades past each other, the torque tube linkage mechanism comprising a torque tube on torque tube bearings, and torque tube connectors connecting the torque tube to the blade mounting for the active blade, and wherein the rake adjustment mechanism comprises a clutch in the torque tube linkage mechanism and the clutch is configured and operable to open and permit balancing of the force on the blade mounting for the active blade.