[TheForge] Punch press dies

[Bob Ehrenberger]

Andy,

My forging press started it's life as a punch press, so the precision is 
there. But as part of the conversion we added a quick change die holder to 
be able to swap out forging dies with ease.  The quick change holder 
probably doesn't have the accuracy for punching, I would need to remove it 
so the punches and bottom dies could be bolted directly to the press frame.

Robert Ehrenberger
Shelbyville, Mo.
eforge at centurytel.net

-----Original Message-----
>From: Andrew Vida <osan at netlabs.net>
>Sent: Jul 19, 2011 9:07 PM
>To: Bob Ehrenberger <eforge at centurytel.net>, Blacksmithing List Sponsored 
>by ABANA <theforge at mailman.qth.net>
>Subject: Re: [TheForge] Punch press dies
>
>Unless your home made press is very accurately built for high
>repeatability, I would recommend against using it  as a punch press.  I
>have had a die go cockeyed in a 130 ton press.  The D2 punch split and a
>very sharp bullet sailed across the shop and took a good divot out of
>the block wall.  I am confident in saying that had a person been in its
>way, it would have passed right through whatever flesh and bone stood in
>its path.
>
>My only advice is to be very careful with this sort of thing.  These are
>operations that require a certain mechanical precision.  If you cannot
>guarantee the necessary tolerances, better you .not go there.  I would
>hate to hear you were injured or killed.
>
>On 7/19/2011 7:30 PM, Bob Ehrenberger wrote:
>> Frosty,
>>
>> It is for a home made forging press that I want to make dual purpose.  I
>> think I will look into the Whitney punches that Ries mentioned.
>>
>> Robert Ehrenberger
>> Shelbyville, Mo.
>> eforge at centurytel.net