(retagged)

| /
|/  /--------
  /  excess
  \  lead
|\  \--------
| \


> Your physics doesn't add up.  If "all the energy" goes into the
> excess lead, it will presumably be converted to kinetic energy
> of that lead causing it to fly off.

Alan's "shockless" certainly looks like an ultra-flush cutter. I've
found mine to be a lot gentler than the dual bevel type, and
cut-offs just drop away, rather than fly off. Could be something
to do with the sharpness/hardness of the blade, but whatever,
you don't get the impression of any force going back towards
the PCB

I don't know if this analogy holds water, but how about a shaped
explosive charge or guillotining charge. This is also wedge-
shaped like the above ASCII and directs all the explosive force
into the beam or whatever's being cut without sending much
energy the other way

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