Modern punching technology for easy and versatile sheet metal processing

Anyone looking around metal companies might think that a punching machine has become less relevant compared to a decade ago. Laser cutting machines are becoming faster, more flexible and more reliable every year. But the advantages that made the punch a favored tool of metalworkers back then still exist. If you have the tools and can continue working without changeovers, it remains the fastest and most cost-effective way to cut out pieces. More than that, technical advances have made punches even more versatile than they already were. Time for a rediscovery.

Not so long ago, punching machines were the best candidates for machining sheets that called for long straight cuts, or required a large number of holes. The latest laser cutting machines, however, can knock punch presses in these areas due to their speed and lack of tool changes and maintenance. As important as production speed is today, too often too little attention is given to the advantages that punch presses still have to offer. The most obvious? The ability to not just cut metals into the right geometry, but to actually start shaping them according to the customer's wishes. And that goes beyond the countersinks, cutouts and louvers that we are already familiar with. 

Apply relief

For example, a modern punch can also emboss to capture a product name or logo as a three-dimensional and tangible feature in the metal. But embossing simultaneously offers opportunities to apply tread patterns. For greater safety, for example, or to give seals a more robust appearance. This is traditionally done by buying metal plates that already have the right tread pattern. But that means the plates will uniformly have these patterns and it is difficult to determine exactly what that tread pattern will then look like on a cut piece. The types of materials and thicknesses offered in this sheet material don't always fit well for the application, either. Having a punch apply the tread patterns may take time, but it gives you much more flexibility in terms of materials and options for a perfect finish. 

Dot marking

Embossing processes can also serve to support and reinforce traceability throughout the entire value chain of a metal piece. With embossing tools, the tools that can apply such relief, alphanumeric codes can be applied that can be easily read even after years of use. A visually appealing solution, dot marking is also an option for modern punch presses. This allows letters, numbers, logos and even data matrix codes to appear in the metal. Ideal, for example, for part numbers, alignment aids, service instructions... The advantage of applying with the punching machines is that changes are easily possible with each revision. 

Making a difference with versatility

These are just a few examples of how mechanically shaped features can make finished pieces more functional and attractive to the end customer. In some cases, it can even mean the difference between a product that blends into the competitive crowd or one that stands out above it. Indeed, a laser cutting machine provides unparalleled productivity and high flexibility when it comes to cutting out a geometry. But there are a whole host of elements in metalworking that then call for a secondary process. This is where a punch can live up to its reputation as a versatile and cost-effective tool. And who knows, maybe a combination machine, which combines both techniques, makes the most sense for some pieces as the ultimate technique for metalworking. A machine that can really deliver everything you need to get to a perfectly finished product from sheet metal in one go.