What are the different types of punching machine?

9th March 2020


What are the different types of punching machine?


	Shop for Hand-held Punching Machines


		There are many different types, makes and models of hand-held punching machine, and each one may be more suited for use on a particular material or specific task. Below is a guide to help you decide which type is best for you.

		Punching pliers
		There are basic hand-held punching machines available such as punching pliers. They typically have steel arms and jaws with soft-grip rubber handles and a heat-treated hardened steel punch that is screwed in to its uppermost jaw and held tightly in place with a nut. Spare punches of various sizes and shapes are available.

		Best suited to… These types of hand-held punching machines are often used for domestic tasks, craft-work and craft-jewellery making. They will punch a hole in soft materials like leather and in sheet metal up to 18 gauge or 1mm thick.

		Rotary punch pliers
		Rotary punch pliers have steel arms and jaws, the upper jaw having a rotating steel drum with six punches of increasing sizes attached to it. The typical sizes include: 2, 2.5, 3.0, 3.5, 4 and 5mm. (5/64, 3/32, 7/64, 1/8, 5/32 and 3/16 in) though these may differ from model to model.

		Best suited to… This type of hand-held punching machine allows you to punch circular holes of various sizes in soft materials like leather and are often used to make the holes in belts.

		Industrial punching machines
		There are many types of industrial hand-held punching machines available. Though their chief function remains the same (to punch holes) each may have qualities that make them better suited to a specific material or task. They are generally considered more heavy-duty tools than their domestic counterparts.

		Pressed steel punching machines There are punching machines that have pressed steel bodies, soft-grip rubber handles, a depth gauge and a selection of interchangeable hardened steel punches and dies of varying sizes. These types of punching machine are typically more expensive than the forged steel varieties.

		Best suited to… These punches can produce upto 740kg of punching force and are they ideal for use on hard materials such as roofing slate as well as softer materials like leather. They can punch sheet metals between 24-9 gauge or 0.5-3mm depending on the material being punched and the diameter of punch being used.

		Forged steel punching machines There are punching machines that have forged steel bodies, plastic grip handles, a depth gauge and a selection of interchangeable hardened steel punches and dies of varying sizes. Forged steel punching machines are usually cheaper than the pressed steel varieties.

		Best suited to… These punches have upto 1100kg of punching power and are suitable for use with all types of sheet metal between 24 and 9 gauge (0.5 and 3mm) depending on the type of material you are punching and the size of the punch being used.

		Deep jaw punching machines There are deep jaw punching machines that have been designed to overcome the problem of using a punching machine on pieces of sheet metal that have lipped edges.

		Best suited to… These punches have over 1 tonne of punching power and are suitable for use with all types of sheet metal between 24 and 9 gauge or 0.5 and 3mm. Their special deep jaws are designed so that you can fit them over the lipped edge of certain sheet metals.

		Long jaw punching machines Long jaw punching machines have the advantage of being able to get much deeper into a piece of sheet material than a conventional punching machine.

		Best suited to… These punching machines can punch through paper, leather, fabric, plastic, thin tin and chipboard. They can also set eyelets and grommets. They do not usually have interchangeable punches and dies but instead have two settings for different sized holes, typically 3 and 5mm (1/8 and 3/16 inch).