Punching Technology Gains Success in Stamping Applications

“Precision punching technology can give stamping houses a competitive edge by helping them meet new market demands for smaller volumes and faster turnaround times, especially for prototype work,” says Mike Morissette, product manager for punching machines at TRUMPF Inc.

At METALFORM 2007, booth 313, TRUMPF will demonstrate the speed, flexibility and capabilities of the TruPunch 2020 for stamping applications. Designed and manufactured by TRUMPF in the United States, the TruPunch 2020 offers fast acceleration and punching speeds, without sacrificing accuracy. Equipped with a 50 by 100 inch working range and the ability to handle 4 by 8 foot sheets, the TruPunch 2020 creates a turnkey processing package that makes prototype jobs easier and more cost-efficient for stamping houses.

“In a short-run environment, the costs of trial runs, performing tooling changeovers, and maintaining parts accuracy can eat away at profits,” adds Morissette. “The TruPunch 2020 excels at meeting this challenge of optimizing production efficiencies while performing short – and typically urgent – production runs.”

Unique design features, such as a fully integrated linear tool changing rail, gantry drive, open architecture and rigid coordinate guide system, enable the TruPunch 2020 to achieve the highest possible production speeds for a machine of its compact size. In addition, due to TRUMPF’s signature single-station punching head design, a complete tooling changeover can be accomplished in less than one minute. The machine’s linear tool magazine, which can hold up to 19 different tool cartridges, in addition its 360-degree and all-tool rotation give the user the freedom to create a variety of different part shapes while efficiently nesting parts for optimal material utilization.

“Punching technology advantages such as fast setup and changeover help create the shorter lead times and greater flexibility needed for stamping houses to take on short run production that was previously unprofitable or not possible,” says Morissette. “One stamping-turned-punching operation tells us they have recorded a 44 percent reduction in tooling costs, 22 percent faster tooling lead time, and production time savings of 34 percent.”

To learn more about how punching technology can be used for cost-effective prototype jobs or short run stamping applications, please visit the TRUMPF Inc. booth at the METALFORM 2007 show March 25 to 28 in Rosemont, Illinois from or visit www.us.trumpf.com. For additional show information, please visit www.metalform.com.

In addition to their TruPunch 2020, TRUMPF will be demonstrating the TruBend 3120 press brake and their line of quality portable power tools, including the lightweight and heavy-duty N 700-2 nibbler which easily cuts 0.275-inch thick steel and 0.106-inch thick stainless steel for a wide range of applications, including coil lines, sheet metal projects, metal structures and elevator construction, commercial vehicle manufacturing and shipbuilding.

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TRUMPF is one of the world's largest producers of fabricating machinery and a world market leader in lasers used for industrial production technology. Additional company information is available at: www.us.trumpf.com