By: Arthur Cooper
Submitted: 2011-01-10 17:33:12 | Word Count: 664
A punch press is a type of heavy duty machine employed in the industrial machining industry to literally ‘punch’ holes in various types of materials. Machining parts made of metal, composites and various types of plastics require a lot of force generation. In days gone by, these tasks were done manually (at least in wood and metal) and were very time consuming. Then there were mechanical presses that could cut holes using a single small or large die. Now mechanical punch presses have become so much more advanced; with the development of CNC (Computer Numerical Control) software technology, they can be operated with multi-station turrets and hold complex die sets.
The introduction of computer numerical control in many different work tools has made sophisticated automation the new standard at many machining plants. The software enables machinists to design, machine and inspect parts for quality control all using a personal computer. This is done with a combination of various technologies. CAD (Computer Aided Design) technology enables designs to be sent from a pc to the machine itself, taking a lot of error out of the programming process. Also, the use of CAM (Computer Aided Manufacturing) technology allow instructions that have been already loaded with the right calculations and measurements to be sent remotely to your press punch. These tell it exactly how to move the material to align the cutters where it needs to be using its X and Y axes; therefore it can precisely drill, cut and/or punch holes depending on the machine.
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Punch Presses are usually C type or portal type. The C type has a hydraulic ram at the top, whereas the portal looks like a full circle with the ram in the center. The portal version is much better at combating distortion caused by its own movement, and frame deflection. Die sets have male and female pieces that deform the material (punch holes) in a desired way, and are removable from the device. The ram moves up and down during the punching process, forcing the material through the hole. Either type will also come with a table (commonly referred to as a bed) that has either brushes or rollers to traverse the metal sheet under CNC control. The bed is considered the X axis of the punch press, and the Y axis is usually considered any juncture at a right angle to it.
A punch press with CNC functions gives the utmost automated control to the user. Here at MachineryValues.com, we have a selection of new as well as used ones you can purchase or lease. Our company was founded based on experience and intricate knowledge of the machining industry. Our used models are competitively priced and our financing options will make whichever one you choose affordable. We have knowledgeable sales associates on hand to answer your questions. It doesn’t matter where your operation is located; we can ship a press punch with CNC control functions to you anywhere globally, as we have been doing for over two decades. Pay us a visit at www.MachineryValues.com.
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