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Considering industry pressures, punch and die facilities can’t afford significant periods of machine downtime, not if they’re to remain a competitive force in an aggressively growth-oriented manufacturing sector. Unfortunately, as potent as these tools clearly are, they are susceptible to fatigue-related productivity bottlenecks. Any major disruption, whether due to a worn punch or a threadbare […]

Just about any kind of material can be formed by CNC machines. Following on from this thought, Computer Numerical Machines (CNC) have the capacity to transform these materials into all sorts of intricately fashioned components. Really, there’s no limit to the detailed shapes that can be created by this automated equipment cabinet. Just input the […]

Working in the die stamping sector, there are a pair of press working techniques that dominate the industry. Asked to choose between them, a press technician can’t very well make that decision until the pros and cons of the two techniques have been determined. Starting with Progressive Die workstations, let’s find out how these stamping […]

State-of-the-art strides in CAD/CAM technology have spurred die and punch manufacturing developments at an unprecedented pace. In light of these technologically-driven tool forming developments, we feel an obligation to check out some of the more promising tech trends. Starting with conventional high-quality punch manufacturing workstations, follow us now as we look at new ways to […]

Kicking off with a straightforward explanation, one that forming equipment maintenance professionals know all too well, oily films neutralize friction. If there’s little to no friction during a machine’s operating stroke, then there’s less wear and less broken parts to replace. Sure, the sheet metals and tool linkages do their best to dissipate such energy […]

If a multi-tonnage press snaps down at breakneck speed, will a punch eject a razor-sharp blank? Not necessarily, not if there are certain quality-attenuating factors hindering the process. For one thing, what kind of shape is the die in? If it’s worn and chipped, then metal punching quality issues are going to surface. Anyway, let’s […]

A J-hook is a type of punch deformity, one that occurs due to tool wear. It’s a shape, a wear pattern that appears as an inward-curling burr of punch tip metal. Left like this, the tool will pick and snag at an opening as it performs its full stroke. If things go downhill from here, […]

Process-wise, a zinc coating is electrically deposited on a substrate. That’s a barebones description for a much more complicated process. Sure, scant details are handy when articles are skimming over trivial subjects, but that’s not the case here. Really, the above statement can only be used as a jumping-off point, as an introductory sentence. One […]

Made from hardened tungsten carbide alloys, tool punches should last for ages. That may be the case in an ideal world, but we clearly don’t live there. Punch life issues occur, they frustrate equipment operators, and they cause periods of machine downtime to accumulate. A productivity loss graph could probably chart the problem. Or, better […]

During a punching tool’s short journey, it strikes down, penetrates or indents a sheet metal workpiece, and then it retracts so that it lines up with its next strike. The whole process is over in less than a second. With dies, a more complex tool geometry adds shape to the strike zone. Blade tool functions […]