All You Need to Know About Punching Tools
The manufacturing industry is quite wide. It is the industry that forms the base of all other industries as it manufacturers the equipment or products that are used in other industries like the cloth industry, food industry, automotive industry, etc. it won’t be an exaggeration to say that no other industry can survive without the manufacturing industry support.
Now let’s talk about the equities that support the manufacturing industry. We are talking about the tools that are used in all the manufacturing processes. There are a plethora of tools that are used in the manufacturing process like,
- Punching tools
- Drilling tools
- Lathes
- Milling tools
All these tools have different purposes and advantages. In this article, we will be addressing the punching tools. We will discuss their applications and benefits in detail as these are the most popular tools in the manufacturing industry. There is hardly any manufacturing process that can be accomplished without them.
Let’s dive and explore these punching tools.
Applications of punching tools
Punching tools are used for numerous purposes that we will be discussing now. Let’s begin.
Extrusion process
Punching is the most efficient option for the secondary processing of aluminum extrusions. You can punch multiple holes and notches in a single stroke of the press. Moreover, inside corners are convenient to punch.
Punch tools specialize in punching aluminum extrusion to preserve the integrity of the legs and channels used in the assembly of the final product. These tools are widely used for this purpose owing to their optimum level of precision and accuracy.
Tubing process
Tubing, also called inner tubing, bumper tubing, towed tubing, or kite tubing, is a recreational process where an individual rides on top of an inner tube, either on water, snow, or through the air. The tubes themselves are also popular as “donuts” or “biscuits” owing to their shape.
Mandrel punching is used for the process of tubing. These units are used for producing round or shaped holes in single or multiple hole configurations in a round, square, or rectangle tubing or pipe. Owing to the style variations, shut heights and die heights are determined by each mandrel unit’s designs.
Benefits of Using Punching Tools
There are numerous benefits of using punching tools for hole-making. Let’s talk about the pros of these tools.
Optimum accuracy and precision
As per the thumb rule of manufacturing processes, it is important to have precision and accuracy to deliver a product that is a replica of what the client asked for. That is why it is important to use tools like punching tools that swear by their precision level.
These tools are known for making identical holes without any error. Only these tools can achieve geometrically precise shapes to the highest levels of quality while ensuring no needle holes or spatter, no waves or scratches.
Zero errors that lead to huge savings
These tools due to their accuracy ensure that there is no error in the process. No error means no wastage of material as well as money. This will surely increase the profit percentage.
Errors will take time to solve and you will not be able to deliver the product to your client at their prescribed time. This will cost you your firm’s reputation.
But with these tools, you don’t need to worry. As they can ensure minimal to zero error that will bring more profit to the table and will allow you to serve your clients better.
Serve multiple purposes
Punching, slitting, forming, countersinking, tapping, rolling, marking, there are so many purposes that are served by these tools. Punching tool masters all these processing steps.
This saves time, as setup and programming only have to be carried out once. The advantage over here is that you fully manufacture a variety with just one tool and the process can even be fully automated if you so wish.
Quicker and economical
If you are manufacturing several identical shapes in one go, punching is unbeatably fast and has no competition when it comes to price. These tools ensure that you will meet the tight schedule as they are extremely quick in processing but the best part is that they are cost-efficient.
These tools will make sure that you give the best quality products without going out of your budget. These tools won’t burn your pocket and will ensure that things don’t go out of your budget.
Types of punch tools
There are numerous types of punching tools and each one of them serves a different purpose in the manufacturing processes, like,
- Centre punch
- Prick punch
- Solid punch
- Transfer punch
- Drive punch
- Pin punch
- Roll pin punch
- Hollow punch
- Dot punch
- Letter stamps
- Tablet punch
Maintenance of punching tools
Owning a manufacturing business means your output, revenue, and customer satisfaction all rely on having streamlined and efficient operations. This highlights the need for robust productivity in the manufacturing industry.
Improving productivity in manufacturing – who knew how crucial it can be? Though the fact is that if you want to make a mark in this industry and desire to emerge as a popular name then you need to pay attention to the level of productivity.
This level of productivity can come only when you pay attention to the maintenance of tools. And punching tools are no exception. If you want them to give you the desired results, you need to spare time for their weekly, monthly, and yearly maintenance.
This brings us to the sharpening of tools which is a part of the maintenance process.
Sharpening of tools:
Experts recommend sharpening tools when the edges are worn to a 0.01(0.25) radius. At this point, just a small amount of sharpening will “touch up” the cutting edge. Frequent touch up works better than waiting for the punch to become very dull.
Tools last longer and cut cleaner with less punching force, and you get improved consistency in work quality. The maximum amount of sharpening depends on the thickness of the material being punched, the size of the punch (length and width), and the punch press station.
Final Words
Punching tools are the backbone of the manufacturing industry. It is crucial to have a complete understanding of these tools and this article will be immensely useful in this regard.
