Process	Punching
	Punching is a very efficient, inexpensive and flexible way of producing cutouts in sheet metal. Traditional punches produce a single geometry with the same tool. NC-controled punches with multiple standard tools can produce a wide range of geometries characterised by simple geometrical elements like lines and circles. Cutting of sheet metal can be done with shearing, blanking or punching. In shearing the sheet is cut along a straight line between two cutting edges (like scissors). In blanking the desired part is cut from a larger piece of material. Punching means cutting materail away from the part, e.g. a hole. The moovable upper cutting edge is called the punch, while the lower stationary is refered to as the die. The cutting is a combination of plastic deformation and fracture.
Danish Name	Stansning
Category	Reducing processes, Cutting
Materials	Metals Plastics
Typical products	Razor, ordinary Car space frame Paper puncher (the product function is punching) Cover
Competing processes	Laser beam cutting Blanking Shearing
Price notes	Faily low investments due to low cost equipment. Varialble cost are low due to short processing times.
Environmen- tal notes	Disposal: Waste (cut-outs and leftover plates) is fairly clean and easy to handle and therefore well suited for recycling.
Additional info	Laser beam cutting is better suited for more complex free form curves.
Keywords	Sheet metal cutting Plate Holes Square holes
Photo	Thomas Nissen (Computer graphics)
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