25-09-2023, 09:47 PM
The standard aluminium pressed plates I have on my car at the moment are of 'semi-sheared' manufacture. The raised letters are produced by squeezing a flat plate with the registration letters and numbers set into the die. The back shows indentations of the letters as the total material volume is conserved.
I think the process is called 'semi-sheared' because the the letters/numerals are pressed far enough to create the raised effect, but the process is not continued until they are squeezed all the way out of the plate. (As you will know, 'shearing' refers to the way the load is applied in pressing the letters - the force is administered in two directions at the same time but slightly displaced - as with scissors.)
I think the process is called 'semi-sheared' because the the letters/numerals are pressed far enough to create the raised effect, but the process is not continued until they are squeezed all the way out of the plate. (As you will know, 'shearing' refers to the way the load is applied in pressing the letters - the force is administered in two directions at the same time but slightly displaced - as with scissors.)