During the proposal phase, the current shear die and process were analyzed to determine necessary functions and constraints for a modified design, as well as issues believed to be key instigators of part deformation and deterioration. Previous attempted solutions were also analyzed to gain insight into the problem and ideas. Potential solutions were then developed based on these areas of interest, which include the portion of the die that sits below the welderhead, the hinge pins, the cutting edge, and the latch handle. The primary solutions that were worked on throughout the proposal phase were support ledges to address imbalanced forces and die tipping, and redesign of the pin sections to incorporate bushings into the design. Besides design, material research was a major portion of the proposal phase. After initial designs were decided, stress analysis and simulations were done to verify their viability.