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  1. #1
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    Default Punch 12mm hole in 8-10mm steel

    Hi guys is it possible to make a home made 12mm punch to make 32x 12mm holes in 8-10mm steel?

    I absolutely dont want to be drilling that many holes its a boring job

    Looking to use the punch in my 20t hydraulic press

  2. #2
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    Jan 2007
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    Just hire/borrow a mag drill and buy a 12mm rotabroach. Wont take very long to drill that many holes. Less time than it will take to make a punch and die.
    Built: a Bench,a Desk,an Archery Display,

    Those were the droids I was looking for.

  3. #3
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    Hi Gazza,

    I fear Its going to take a bit more than 20 tons to knock 12 mm diameter hole in 10 mm steel.
    Best Regards:
    Baron J.

  4. #4
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    Quote Originally Posted by NCArcher View Post
    ... Wont take very long to drill that many holes...
    An hour, maybe 2 if you are really slow

    Quote Originally Posted by NCArcher View Post
    ... Less time than it will take to make a punch and die.
    Depends on complexity but based on making up some simple dies for people, probably 20+ hours. That does not include waiting time for heat treating the punch and die, order and delivery of tool steel. It also assumes you have a cylindrical grinder to get final dimensions on the punch and something that can do the work of a jig grinder to finish the die.

    Michael

  5. #5
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    Default

    No.

  6. #6
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    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by gazza2009au View Post
    Hi guys is it possible to make a home made 12mm punch to make 32x 12mm holes in 8-10mm steel?

    I absolutely dont want to be drilling that many holes its a boring job

    Looking to use the punch in my 20t hydraulic press

    Hi gazza
    I would say no.
    Assuming your press has that capacity. Here's a yank link to check it. https://www.americanmachinetools.com...punch_hole.htm

    I would ask is the press manual or an air over hydraulic ,ie non manual.It s manual its going to be a slow exercise indeed. Some 32 holes is not a lot but the amount of manual pumping and then the die stripping is not going to be a quick process either.

    As one who has punched thousands of holes in 20mm flatbar, I can tell you that the punching machine required to do so is an extremely heavy and rigid unit.

    You need a well made heavy duty die box to locate and retain the female die.The female die opening must be 10% larger in diameter than the male die diameter.
    This female die must be made to allow for expansion of the pressed slug of metal removed.The metal slug compresses and expands as it is pushed through the female die opening. Female dies are tapered from entry side to exit side to avoid jamming which in turn may result in die breakage.

    The male punch needs a positive way of locating it centrally and rigidly with absolutely no possibility of any movement. The lateral movement in many utility hydraulic presses would not likely maintain the precision straight up and down movement demanded on each cycle stroke.

    As for the male and female dies themselves the manufacture should be left to someone well experienced in the process. Die making is really the province of a tool maker as they are trained to do it.To tackle them yourself could well result in a messy removal from the gene pool if something goes wrong. A guess here but a commercially made one might see you well over $100 .

    For the amount of effort going into such a project for the result hardly seems seems to warrant it.

    All in all, I believe you are better served by marking out the holes and getting a local engineering works to punch the holes for you or go the mag drill route.

    Grahame

  7. #7
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    Sep 2010
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    Lebrina
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    I'd give the same answer that everyone has given, possible, yes, practical, no. If the components are something that can be taken to a drill press, then 32 holes is not a big job at all and even if you have to do them with an electric drill, provided the drill can be slowed sufficiently, (under 1000RPM and ideally 750RPM) and a pilot drill used, (3mm or so), then 32 holes will be done fairly painlessly. A cutting compound while not essential will ease the process.
    I wouldn't contemplate borrowing/hiring a mag drill for a mere 32 holes @12mm. For the cost of hire you could buy a low end electric drill if you didn't already have one.
    Work on the KISS principle for this one.

  8. #8
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    Quote Originally Posted by gazza2009au View Post
    I absolutely dont want to be drilling that many holes its a boring job
    No, it's a drilling job. Boring is something else

    But seriously,

  9. #9
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    I use a 20 ton press to cut discs from 1mm 2mm silver sheet, I can assure you a 20 ton press will not do it

  10. #10
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    Just out of curiosity, I checked a few punch tonnage calculators online and they're all saying about 15 tons to punch those holes in mild steel. That's 15 US tons, so about 13.6 metric tons.

  11. #11
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    Thanks guys i just really dislike drilling steel and 32 holes will take forever, i can come down to 6/7mm material if need be

    Im making steel L brackets to support my boat trailer bunks at the base on the cross members i need to use 16 brackets and they U bolt on so i need 32 holes in 12mm

    I thought the punch would be easy to machine on the lathe seems i am way off

    I appreciate the advice give

  12. #12
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    If drilling 32 odd holes is a chore, then it would seem that you drills may be blunt or sharpened wrong.
    It should be a doddle, not like you are drilling 32 mm holes...

    Cheers
    Joe
    Cheers, Joe
    retired - less energy, more time to contemplate projects and more shed time....

  13. #13
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    Quote Originally Posted by gazza2009au View Post
    Im making steel L brackets to support my boat trailer bunks at the base on the cross members i need to use 16 brackets and they U bolt on so i need 32 holes in 12mm
    Gazza, do you have a drill press?? If not are you able to get one, even a benchtop will do, if you can't get one, do you know someone who has one that you could go around too and use?
    Having a drill press would be one of the first things anyone contemplating metal work should have, along with some decent quality drills.
    When you say 12mm holes is that to take 12mm bolts or 10mm bolts?
    Kryn
    To grow old is mandatory, growing up is optional.

  14. #14
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    Aug 2006
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    I wouldn't bother about making a punch and die when you can buy them cheaply enough.

    https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/CH-60-31-Ton-Hydraulic-Punch-Dies-Die-Sets-CUTS-COPPER-STEEL-ALLY/332245247671?hash=item4d5b5c26b7:m:mxDaLpK-N8bfEm3VvZ-tvHQ&frcectupt=true



    You can also buy cheap hydraulic punches.

    https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/CH-70-Hy...oAAOSwZKFc7x69


    I'd probably just drill them though as the others have suggested. I would use a drill press for accuracy.

  15. #15
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    Interesting elan I am tempted to buy a punch just to try it out

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