Punch press education and training is a great way to ensure the safety of your employees. This type of training teaches employees to properly operate a punch press as well as teach safety procedures. If your shop uses punch presses, this training will help lower the chance of worker compensation claims and workplace accidents.

There are three steps employees need to take to receive comprehensive punch press education and training. Operational training teaches employees to work with the punch press and use it effectively. Safety training teaches employees safety regulations and protocol that must be followed when operating a punch press. Successful completion of Level 1 tests give you the peace of mind that your machinist is competent and is aware of all operating and safety procedures.

1. Send employees to punch press operational workshops.

2. Sign up for punch press operator safety training.

3. Locate Metal Forming Level 1 tests and test preparation designed for punch press operators.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Find operational workshops about the punch press

Punch press operational workshops and seminars are designed to train employees in the general operation and repair of punch presses. These classes are normally scheduled over a weekend so they don't interfere with your business' production schedule.

I recommend: BRight Training and Safety Wear offers one and two-day workshops for metal punch press training. Visit Lucid Safety Training and Consulting for manual punch press and hydraulic punch press trainings. Find tickets for training seminars about the punch press for sale at the Tooling & Manufacturing Association.

Locate punch press operator safety training

Safety training and knowledge is a vital part of punch press operation. OSHA mandates many rules and regulations concerning the operations of a punch press. These safety training opportunities provide information about all punch press safety regulations and how to work safely with a punch press.

I recommend: Take a punch press machines safety workshop run by Safety Training Specialists. Browse online catalogs that detail turret punch press safety seminars, online training and on-site trainings from Rockford Safety Systems.

Find assessment information for punch press operators taking the Metal Forming Level 1 test

The Metal Forming Level 1 test is the certification assessment for employees that operate a punch press and other Level 1 machines. These certifications are not mandatory, however they can be useful and provide your business with a Level 1 machinist. They also ensure that the machine operator knows the ins and outs of the punch press.

I recommend: Take a punch press operator assessment test at BIN to prepare for the Metal Forming Level 1 test. Find curriculum and classes for students preparing for the Metal forming Level 1 test at PMA Educational Foundation.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  A punch press manufacturer normally provides owner's manuals and safety guidelines for the punch press machines they sell. These are good for really basic training, but formal training is suggested for safety and regulation-maintaining purposes.

Punch press machines can add value to any workshop. Working with material from textiles to metals, a punch press operator can perform tasks at a faster pace and with less effort, increasing the efficiency of your business and streamlining projects.

The question is not so much whether punch presses would benefit your business, but what kind of press would fit it best. The work, material and volume your business handles will determine the type of machinery you need, such as hydraulic, turret and manual punch presses. Find the equipment that will provide the right performance when you:

1. Look into a turret punch press for large-scale requirements.
2. Check into manual punch press options for limited needs.
3. Consider your choices for used punch press equipment to cut down on costs.

Action Steps
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Get the right punch press for metal and other industrial needs

Though a metal punch press is most common - used for shaping, riveting and cutting various metals - there are presses for various materials. Whether your business is in metal, fabric textiles, plastics or another product, you can implement turret presses in your business and increase your self-sufficiency and overall processing abilities.

I recommend: Get turret punch press information from a punch press manufacturer such as Muratec or Foremost. You can also check types of punch press for sale by the Heim Group, or request information or a quote from IntoMetal on CNC punch presses.

Use a manual punch press for smaller jobs and smaller workspaces

If your needs are smaller, or the products you work with are more easily manageable, a manual punch press might be the best answer. The presses are simpler, use less power and are generally smaller, making their operation easier and taking up less workspace. There are several varieties, including free-standing machines with levers or simple handheld devices.

I recommend: Look into options for manual punch presses at Janesville or Tox-USA. You also have the choice of getting a small, handheld punch press for sale from Eastwood for simple jobs.

Cut your costs by looking into used punch press suppliers

A limited budget might suggest that a textile, plastic or metal punch press is outside your purchasing ability, but the fact is that finding a used punch press distributor is fairly easy. See if the lower prices for used machinery allow you to include one in your business assets.

I recommend: Save money on used punch presses from Kempler or Universal. Alternatively, get a quote on any of Jordan Craig Machinery's inventory.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  When you contact a punch press manufacturer, inquire about new models that might be available. Usually, a new model replaces an older one, so older inventory, even if it's not used, may be cheaper. Looking for sales like these is a good way to save money on 'new' equipment.

A punch press is useful for carrying out various forming operations such as stamping, punching, blanking, bending and shearing. These machines use manual, hydraulic, pneumatic or electrical power to form metals and plastics.

Whether you want to use or rent a punch press, or want to be a forming service provider, you will need to understand various technical terms that indicate types, components and specifications of punch press machinery. This guide will explain punch press key terms such as manual presses, CNC punch presses and press capacity.

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Manual presses

As the name indicates, manual presses are manually powered and use simple mechanisms. These machines can form small components with lower material strength.

I recommend: To learn more about manual presses, read through information at Janesville Tool & Manufacturing, a supplier of industrial equipment.

CNC (Computer Numerical Control) punch presses

A CNC punch press is important for automated forming operations and is useful for applications where more than one cutting, bending or stamping operation is required. However, you will need to train the operator about the workings of a CNC machine.

I recommend: Earnest Products, a metal forming service provider, offers a glossary of engineering terms.

Progressive presses

A progressive press uses a progressive die for applications that require multiple forming operations on a single component. These machines save the idle process time and improve the production rate.

I recommend: To understand the workings of a progressive press, you can read through the engineering glossary at HT Brigham.

Press capacity

For a punch press, press capacity is the maximum force that a press can exert on the component. Before buying a press punch, you must evaluate the maximum press capacity that you will require for forming your industrial components.

I recommend: For more information on the capacity of a press, read through the glossary of technical terms at The Heim Group.

Production rate

Production rate is another important specification of a forming machine or process. Production rate is the number of components that can be formed in specific time unit (hour or shift).

I recommend: DALCOS, a manufacturer of press machines, provides the definition for production rate.

Die penetration

Die penetration indicates the amount that a punch penetrates a die during its operation.

I recommend: You can read through the stamping glossary at SheetMetalDesign.com, an informative Web site.

Punch radius

Punch radius (also called nose radius) is the radius of the punch corner or nose, a die component that first meets the product.

I recommend: To understand the definition for a punch radius, read through the glossary of technical terms at VAC AERO International.