At a glance
Diagnose first. Modify second.
- accelerated punch wear and loss of cutting edge
- verification of tool steel and heat treatment
- review of cutting clearance and punching parameters
- application of a PVD coating
The challenge
The working components required servicing too frequently.
The punches were wearing and losing their cutting edge too quickly during production, shortening the interval between servicing or replacement.
Before changing the solution, the team needed to determine whether the cause lay in the material, heat treatment, tool design or production process.
Technical approach
Eliminating the common causes of premature wear.
Material and heat treatment
The selected material and the hardness achieved after heat treatment were verified.
Cutting clearance
The clearance between punch and die was checked.
Operating conditions
Punching speed and the possibility of excessive heat build-up were assessed.
PVD coating
Once the underlying parameters were confirmed, a wear-resistant surface coating was applied.
Outcome
Premature loss of the cutting edge was reduced.
The PVD coating addressed accelerated wear and extended the working interval of the punches.
We do not publish unverified tool-life figures. Coating parameters and the expected outcome are selected for the punch material, the processed material and the tool’s operating conditions.
The photograph shows actual components. Customer documentation has been removed for confidentiality.