The invention is concerned with a shearing apparatus (120) comprising:
a housing (122) comprising a first side wall, a second side wall, a top wall (150), and a bottom wall (152), the walls forming a stationary die pocket (142) and a movable die pocket (144) therein, the movable die pocket (144) overlapping the stationary die pocket (142) in a longitudinal direction, a first passageway extending though the first side wall and in communication with the stationary die pocket, and a second passageway extending though the second side wall and in communication with the movable die pocket, the first and second passageways being aligned in a direction angled relative to the longitudinal axis;
a force transmitting apparatus (126) mounted within the housing (122);
a stationary die (22) seated in the stationary die pocket (142) in the housing, the stationary die (22) being non-movable relative to the housing (122) when seated in the stationary die pocket (142), the stationary die having a cutout therein configured to cut a workpiece, the stationary die being capable of being removed from the housing;
a movable die (22') seated in the movable die pocket (144) in the housing (122);
a die engaging mechanism between the force transmitting apparatus and the movable die, the die engaging mechanism configured to be released to decouple the force transmitting apparatus and the movable die;
an end stop assembly (124) attached to the housing (122) and configured to selectively close an end of the movable die pocket; and
wherein the movable die (22') is engaged with the force transmitting apparatus (126) and movable longitudinally relative to the stationary die and the housing when moved by the force transmitting apparatus, the movable die having a cutout therein configured to cut a workpiece, the movable die being capable of being removed from the housing.