Compound and progressive dies

      Compound dies combine two or morepunches are employed. The metal sheet is moved
operations at one station as illustrated, strip stock isincrementally through the press each time the
fed to the die, two holes are punched , and thepunches are withdrawn. The punched holes may be
piece is blanked on each stroke of the ram. when thealmost any shape. All nonbrittle metals can be
operations are not similar, as in the case of a blankingperforated.
and forming operation, dies of this type areMisalignment of punch and die causes excessive
frequently know as combination dies.pressures, shearing or chipping ofdie edges, or actual
      A progressive die set performs two orbreaking of the tools, Such action may occur through
more operations simultaneously but at differentshifting even though the setup is originally correct. To
stations. A punch-and-die set of this type is shown inprevent these occurrences, proper alignment is
Fig.17-2. As the strip enters the die, the small squareensured by guide rods at two or four corners of the
hole is punched. The stock is then advanced to thedie that fit into holes in the punch holders, These dies
next station, where it is positioned by the pilot as theare known as pillar dies. This arrangement of having
blanking punch descends to complete the part.the punch and die held in proper alignment facilitates
This general type of design is simpler than thethe setting up of the tools. A similar arrangement,
compound dies, because the respective operationsKnown as a subpress die and accasionally used on
are not crowded together. Regardless of the numbersmall work, employs a punch and die mounted in a
of operations to be performed, the finished part issmall frame so that accurate alignment is always
not separated from the strip until the last operation.maintained. pressure is applied by a plunger tat
In the perforation of metal one or two rows ofextends out of the top of the assembly.