Which of the following is NOT an operation performed by a squaring shear?

The operation performed by a squaring shear primarily involves cutting straight edges to create square or rectangular shapes from metal sheets. It is specifically designed to process material along linear paths rather than curves.

Cutting to a curve is not a function of a squaring shear because this type of machinery is strictly for straight cuts, allowing for precise squaring and multiple cuts to specific sizes, which are essential for aligning and fabricating metal parts to exact specifications.

The other operations—cutting to a line, squaring, and multiple cutting to a specific size—are inherently part of the capabilities of a squaring shear, emphasizing the emphasis on straight, clean cuts essential for proper metalwork. This understanding highlights the limitations of the squaring shear, particularly in its inability to perform curved cuts, which distinguishes it from other cutting tools that are specialized for such tasks.