| A cutting press is a type of machine used for cutting | | | | pushes it through the die. This results in obtaining the |
| and forming material. It may be a large CNC operated | | | | required shape of the punch and die set. The piece |
| machine and hold a large or small complex die set, or | | | | of material that is pushed through the die by the |
| it may be small and manually operated and hold only | | | | punch will then be collected underneath the machine. |
| a single simple die. | | | | Depending on the application, the pushed out formed |
| Press cutting machines are large metal framed and | | | | material may be the desired component, or the |
| will have some type of ram in the upper part to allow | | | | formed hole made by the punch may be the desired |
| the cutting or punching process to be carried out. | | | | result. |
| Most cutting presses will have a table or bed with | | | | Most of todays punch presses are hydraulically |
| rollers or brushes mounted in the tables to enable the | | | | powered, but there are still older mechanically driven |
| sheet metal workpiece to move with low friction. | | | | machines in use. These mechanical machines are |
| Brushes are very often used to minimalise scratching | | | | powered by a constantly rotating flywheel which in |
| to the workpiece and this is important when working | | | | turn drives a ram to which the punch is attached. |
| with sheet metals such as highly polished steels or | | | | The flywheel is powered by a large electric motor. |
| brushed aluminium. | | | | Hydraulic presses power the ram with a hydraulic |
| A punch press is a machine which is used for | | | | cylinder and are either valve and feedback controlled |
| processing sheet materials such as sheets of | | | | or just valve controlled. Valve controlled machines |
| aluminium or sheets of mild steel etc. The machine | | | | have a one stroke operation which enables the ram |
| performs the cutting operation; stamping or forming | | | | to stroke up and down. Systems that use controlled |
| at specified sites co-ordinated by data. These types | | | | feedbacks enable the ram to be proportionally |
| of machines are usually computer controlled (CNC) | | | | controlled to within fixed points. Controlled feedback |
| and enables automatic mode by the use of a pre-built | | | | systems allow better control over the stroke of the |
| program. | | | | ram; punching rates are increased because the ram |
| Punch presses are used for high volume production | | | | does not have to complete the full stroke up and |
| and is a very efficient metal forming process. The | | | | down, and can work more efficiently with a very |
| punch is positioned above the die which is held in | | | | short stroke. |
| place below it. The punch enters the material and | | | | |