Punch Press Key Terms

Learn about punch press terminology to impress your vendors

By Howard Robertson

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.

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