Glossary

• 5/8 Drop-In
  Term refers to a station size in the Thin Turret tool style with a station range up to 5/8” (15.87mm).
• A2 Steel
  Tool steel that has a higher toughness/hardness ratio, with minimum movement in hardening and a greater wear resistance than oil hardened tool steels.
• Actual Size
  The measured size of the die opening that includes the punch size and total die clearance.
• Alignment ring
  The precision keying device that attaches to a Trumpf punch and orients the punch in the press.
• Alpha Numeric Stamping Assembly
  A special assembly used to provide indelible marking of alpha-numeric characters on the top or bottom of the sheet. Example; for part numbers.
• Auto index
  A tool station in a punch press that rotates.
• Back Taper
  The flanks of the punch are not parallel. They are angled towards each other slightly. The back taper reduces the friction as the punch strips from the material.
• Beading Tool
  An embossing assembly that can hit continuously along the sheet to form a long, strengthening rib.
• Blank
  Any part cut from a sheet of metal that is not scrap.
• Blank die
  A die without a hole typically used to fill an empty station in a turret or below some types of forming tools (ie: dedicated countersink)
• Blanking
  A die without a hole typically used to fill an empty station in a turret or below some types of forming tools (ie: dedicated countersink)
• Bridge Hitting
  Programming a wide section of material between each hit during the first punching sequence and then removing that entire section (or bridge) during another sequence of hits.
• Burnished Land
  The shiny, sheared portion of the hole in the sheet metal in between the rollover and the burr.
• Burr
  The rough edge that protrudes out of the bottom side of the sheet after punching.
• Burr Height
  The visible part of the burr hanging below the sheet. With optimum clearance, the burr height is approximately 10% of the material thickness.
• Button head screw
  A long-threaded bolt, with a semi-spherical head, used in fastening machine parts.
• Canister
  An assembly containing springs that attaches to the Ultra A and B station punches and provides the stipping force to pull the punch from the sheet
• Canister Assembly
  See "Canister."
• Cantilever
  An unsupported protusion of material into a die opening that can result in a die having a higher risk for failure during use.
• Captive draw bolt
  A design feature which prevents a loose punch draw bolt from falling out of the guide assembly
• Card guide
  A special assembly tool used to produce a retainer for printed circuit boards.
• Cartesian Coordinates
  This angle setting method sets 0 degrees at 3:00, and the following angle settings are set counter-clockwise from there. The system is named for the French philosopher and scientist René Descartes.
• Centerline drawing
  A drawing furnished for all special shape punches and dies used for programming and re-ordering.
• Centerpoint
  A special assembly that puts cone-shaped indentations, used for locating, into the sheet.
• Chrome Air Hardened
  Term used to describe a tool steel with a high chromium content that is allowed to air harden, as opposed to using an oil hardening process.
• Cluster
  A special tool which allows multiple holes to be punched with a single hit
• Collet
  A component of the Mate EasyTap used to hold the taps.
• Concave shear
  Shear on the face of a punch face such that the the center of the punch is shorter than the ends and contacts the sheet last.
• Convex or "Rooftop" Shear
  Shear on the face of a punch face such that the the center of the punch is longer than the ends and contacts the sheet first . The face of the punch is angled upward so that the ends contact the sheet last.
• Countersink
  Allows a screw head to reside flush or below the surface of the material.
• Dealer
  Company that represents and sells Mate products.
• Dedicated Countersink
  This tool creates a countersink in the sheet and has a surface that flattens the material around the countersunk hole. It is used specifically for one material thickness and one screw size, and the depth of form is up to 85% of the material thickness. It is used with a blank die.
• Die
  A tool that supports the sheet metal as the punch penetrates through it. The die opening must be larger than the punch. The die size is determined by the material type and thickness being punched.
• Die cassette
  Similar to a die holder but typically holds more than one die. For example, a multi tool.
• Die Clearance
  The difference in size between the punch dimensions and the die dimensions which allows for the proper shearing of the material being punched. Based on the thickness and type of material being punched.
• Die Holder
  Holds the die into the lower turret.
• Die Land
  The usable cutting edge of the top surface of the die.
• Die Line
  The plane at which the top of all standard dies sit, when properly installed.
• Die Pin
  A pin in the die for locating in the die holder.
• Double-cut die opening
  A machining process that allows a Slug Free die to have a positive entry taper and negative exit taper. Essentially the profile of the die aperture is machined twice: once to create the entry taper, and once to create the exit taper.
• Double-D Key
  A pin in the shape of a double “D”, with two flat sides and two rounded sides, used to securely locate the tool in place.
• Draft angle
  This design feature is commonly used with open ended louvers and clip style lance and form tools. The draft angle allows the cut material to pull back into a space in the tool that is larger than the material. This minimizes the stripping force required and prevents the form from becoming deformed during stripping.
• Durometer
  The relative shore hardness of urethane.
• EDM – Electro-Discharge Machining
  A highly accurate machining process that uses an electrical charge to remove material.
• Emboss
  A special assembly that forms without cutting, producing raised or sunken designs in sheet metal.
• Emboss - formed
  Provides a recess or a protrusion.
• Emboss-Beaded
  Used as a stiffener to add rigidity to sheet metal panels.
• Emboss-Cold Forged
  To produce a logo or design on a part.
• Engraved Punch
  A punch, used with a blank die, to stamp characters .005”-.008”(0.13mm-0.20mm) deep in sheet metal. Some examples are numbers, letters, and logos.
• Etch
  The engraving of a number, letter, or combination thereof, on a tool used for identification purposes.
• Etch Number
  Used to identify special shapes and special assemblies.
• External Punch Holder Key
  A key attached to the outside of the punch holder that locates it in the turret bore.
• Extrusion
  The forming of material upward, usually in a round shape. It is normally pre-pierced, then formed. Usually designed to accept self-tapping screws.
• Extrusion - tapping
  Threading for screws and increased bearing area for tubes, etc.
• Fasteners
  Component used to secure two parts together.
• Feed Gap
  The useable space between the upper turret and lower die available for forming and sheet metal travel.
• Flange
  A protruding rim, edge, rib, or collar used to strengthen an object, hold it in place, or attach it to another object.
• Form Tool
  Tool used to move metal instead of piercing it.
• Forming
  An operation that shapes the material.
• Four-Way Shear
  A punch shear ground in four different quadrants that meet in the center.
• Fully Guided
  Close fitting stripper provides support and guiding at the punch point. Accurate and close tolerances between the stripper and guide assure a precisely located punch point.
• Galling
  Metal depositing on the sides of the punch point.
• Gauge (Gage)
  A system of measurement for the thickness of sheet metal.
• Grind Life
  The maximum useable length that can be removed from a punch or die by sharpening.
• Hardened and Ground
  Material is heat treated to achieve the optimum material hardness, and is then ground to the precise dimensions required by the application.
• Hardened Tool Steel
  Tool steel that has been heat treated to achieve the optimum material hardness
• Hardening
  Any process of increasing hardness of metal by suitable treatment, usually involving heating and cooling.
• Hat Die
  A die with an added extension that fits into the inner bore of the die holder. Made from S7 tool steel, a hat die provides extra strength for use in tough applications.
• Heavy Duty
  Style of tooling designed for thick material applications .157”(4.0mm) and over.
• Hinge knuckle
  Hinge is made of two pieces. Each piece includes one or more interlocking knuckles to create a hinge.
• Hinge Tool
  A special assembly form that creates a jointed device on which a door, gate, shutter, lid, or other attached part turns, swings, or moves.
• HSS - High Speed Steel
  Tool steel used for making punches and punch inserts. The hardness is 60-62 Rockwell C scale.
• ID (Inside Diameter)
  The measurement of the interior periphery of a round shape or form.
• Indexing
  Any time you rotate a punch and die to an angle within a 360 degree range.
• Inside/Outside Radius Tool
  A tool designed for use in auto indexing stations that cuts both inside and outside radii without stopping the machine to remove the slug or blank.
• Internal Key
  A key attached to the inside of a guide that locates the punch in the guide.
• Key
  A device used for location and/or alignment. One example is a key to position tooling in a holder, or the holder in a turret.
• Knockout
  The process of cutting and forming material, except the slug is held into the sheet metal by a tab or tabs.
• Lance and Form
  Used for air flow, decoration, card guides, location markers, shear tabs, wire harnesses or clip attachments.
• Line-up Tools
  Tools used to align the upper turret with the lower turret.
• Lock Washers
  A metal disk placed beneath a nut or at an axle bearing to relieve friction, prevent leakage or distribute pressure.
• Louver
  Used to provide air flow or ventilation.
• Lower Assembly
  Term is used to reference the components of a special assembly that fit into the lower portion of the punch press.
• Lubricant
  A substance capable of reducing friction, heat, and wear during punching and forming operations when introduced as a film between solid surfaces.
• M2 Tool Steel
  High speed steel with extremely good wear resistance. This is a premium material used for punches.
• M4PM™
  A high speed, particle metallurgy steel designed for use in high performance. A combination of the chemical composition of M4, the particle metallurgy manufacturing process, and a triple temper heat treatment process.
• Maxima™ Coating
  A premium tool steel coating made up of zirconium, titanium and nitride that helps eliminate galling on the punch tips.
• Maximum Tonnage
  The rated force that a press is designed to exert.
• Multi-Tool
  A specialized tool holder designed to hold more than one punch and is usually located in the auto-index station of a punch press machine.
• Near Polished Flanks
  The fine surface finish on the flanks of Mate punches. The smooth finish reduces friction to eliminate galling and extend tool life.
• Nibbling
  The creation of an opening or hole using multiple hits with a tool, typically at high speed and in small increments.
• Nitride Treatment
  A gas heat-treating process used to produce a hard, wear-resistant layer on high speed steels. It can be used advantageously only on tool steels that do not temper back excessively at the nitriding temperature, 975o C.
• Non-spring loaded
  A design available for forming applications that do not require stripping in the lower tool.
• Notching
  To cut or make an indentation in something. This involves removing the material from the corner of the sheet, often at an angle, to allow bending.
• O-ring
  A flat ring made of rubber or plastic, used as a gasket.
• OD (Outside Diameter)
  The measurement of the exterior periphery of a round shape or form.
• OEM - Original Equipment Manufacturer
  Punch press machine manufacturer.
• Off-Center Punching
  When the entire periphery of the punch is not engaged with the material being punched.
• Offset
  In forming this refers to the raising of the edge of the sheet parallel to the sheet, typically one material thickness in height.
• Oil-Canning
  Warpage or bending caused by punching or forming the sheet metal.