The Cleveland Punch & Die tip of the day deals with the punch stem. The punch stem, sometimes referred to as the ram, transfers the machine's energy into the punch. Proper alignment of the punch stem is an important factor, especially on older or heavily used punching machines. Because the punch is harder than the punch stem, the contact point between the punch stem and the head of the punch will eventually begin to wear. If this occurs, the punch will have a tendency to rock against the uneven stem surface. Checking the stem with a square and straight edge will quickly identify if a problem exists.
Most punch stems are bolted to the punching machine and can begin to loosen during the punching operation. Therefore, the bolts should be checked periodically and torqued to the manufacturer's specifications to ensure proper alignment. Some punch stems are also equipped with punch alignment locators such as a single keyway, cross keyway, vertical slots or cross "V grooves". These locators serve as an anti-rotational device when the punch is manufactured with a matching keyway. The locators are especially helpful for a quick and accurate setup when punching holes that are square, oblong, rectangle, hexagon, ect. They can also help the operator to ensure correct tooling alignment. By ordering all shaped tools with the proper keyway, tooling life will surely be extended.
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