FAQ – Frequently Asked Questions

Here we have gathered some common questions we receive. We will continue to add more questions and answers over time.

1. Question – Can you grind punches that have been damaged? Answer – The punches are conical and have a specified dimension, e.g. 26mm, at the outermost tip of the punch. It is possible to grind away defects and restore sharpness, but the punch will no longer hold its dimension — it will become smaller. The punches are also hardened, and aggressive grinding will destroy the hardening.

2. Question – Should you lubricate the punches? Answer – Yes. The manufacturer recommends lubricating the punches, as this extends their service life. However, it may be advantageous to avoid using a thick oil or grease. Before use: wipe the punch clean of any dirt and dried oil/grease. Apply a thin oil or cutting fluid — then punch.

3. Question – How thick a material can you punch? Answer – How thick a material you can punch depends on: the maximum punching force of your machine, the thickness of the material, the type of material, and the punch dimension. As a general rule, you cannot punch material thicker than the punch dimension (round punch). For example: It is not possible to punch a round 9mm hole in a 10mm thick plate. Even the same dimension, e.g. 8mm round in 8mm thick plate, will likely result in a broken punch. Feel free to contact us and we will help you with calculations for punching force, punch dimension, or material thickness.

4. Question – How many holes can you punch before the punch is "worn out"? Answer – It is not possible to state how many holes a punch will last, not even approximately. There are too many parameters that affect this. You can, however, create the best conditions for the punch to last as long as possible by having a correctly adjusted stripper, lubricating the punch, and avoiding punching thick plates of hard materials.

5. Question – What die clearance should you use? Answer – In each product catalogue there are recommendations for die clearance. These apply to materials with a tensile strength of up to 420 N/mm². For harder materials or very soft materials, you may or must deviate from the recommendations.