What are the parts of a hand held punching machine?

9th March 2020


What are the parts of a hand-held punching machine?


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		Hand-held punching machines are made up of several different parts and many models have various punches and dies that allow them to punch holes of different sizes and shapes. If you have a different type of hand-held punching, do not worry, it will still have the fundamental parts such as: jaws, handles, body, punches, and dies.

		Handles
		The handles are the part of the tool that the user holds. They are typically spring-loaded so that their natural position is “open”.

		Clasp On some models of hand-held punching machine there is a small metal clasp that allows you to keep the handles locked together.

		The clasp holds the handles together in the “closed” position, which makes storage easier.

		Grips The handles of punching machines are often covered with a plastic or rubber grip for extra support and provide a non-slip grip.

		Body
		The body of the tool is the part that holds the inner mechanism in place and links the handles to the jaws.

		Jaws
		The jaws are located at the top of the body and are in a fixed position relative to the body. This means that when you squeeze the handles, the jaws do not move like the jaws of a pair pliers but rather remain static and it is only the punch that moves, driven by the inner mechanism.Note: some hole punching tools (like rotary punches) do work like pliers, though these types of tool are generally used on softer materials like leather.

		The punch and die are located opposite each other in the lower and upper jaws respectively.

		Inner mechanism
		The inner mechanism set-up may vary from model to model but it is always, in its most fundamental state, a compound lever.

		A compound lever is a simple machine which works on the principle that energy is transferred and amplified from one system of levers to another. This action creates a mechanical advantage and allows the user to maximise output force while minimising input effort.

		Many household objects employ a compound lever such as scales, nail clippers and piano keys.

		Punches and dies
		Punches A punch is fitted into the lower jaw and is the piece of the tool that punches through your chosen material.

		Dies The corresponding die is inserted into the upper jaw. The hole in the centre of each die is fractionally larger than the diameter of the punch that mates with it.

		Spanners and hex key Some models of hand-held punching machine are supplied with spanners and a hex key so that you can change between punches and dies. This may involve disassembling a part of the tool and inserting your chosen punch and die. Other models may have threaded punches and dies that you simply screw into the jaws with thumb and forefinger.

		Adjustable depth gauge
		The adjustable depth gauge lets you set a maximum depth for the edge of your sheet material to rest against. This feature promotes accuracy and reduces the risk of punching a hole in the wrong place.

		Set screw The set screw is a part of the adjustable depth gauge. By tightening or loosening it, you can move and set the gauge to your required depth.

		Scale There is a small scale on the side of the depth gauge which has lines on it that increase in half-centimetre increments. This scale helps you to determine where to set your depth gauge.