TPT March 2009

D rilling, P iercing & P unching T echnology

C overage of these areas of expertise always centres on precision: in measurement, spacing, alignment, and follow-through. It can be instructive to consider the immense number and variety of factors that go into ensuring this zero-tolerance precision. The website of one manufacturer of tube punching machinery showcases punching tools for presses, hydraulic tube punching tools, and custom-built tube punching machines. The units are adaptable to press brakes and power presses; or, in the hydraulic version, fitted with an integral cylinder. They can be arranged in straight lines on presses and custom-built machines; or set up to punch pre- formed tube components.

 Carson is the manufacturer of a range of hole punching equipment, with technology based on mandrel punching (see page 84)

Since the necessity of punching without deformation is paramount, the equipment supplier must allow for machining by both mandrel die and stump mandrel, to ensure the integrity of the tube’s inside diameter. The countersink effect must be anticipated and the remedy applied.

Punching and notching must dovetail smoothly with the tube bending operation. Round tubes, square tubes, rectangular tubes, box sections – all present their individual challenge to the machine that must deliver a precision punch, every time. A very small error in drilling, piercing, and punching will have very large consequences. The products and services reviewed here have been developed to eliminate any such concern.

 SMS Engineering Srl has launched a new automatic punching system that can produce round or square holes with or without deformation (see page 82)

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M arch 2009

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