If you are looking for design ideas for CNC punching sheet metal parts then here are some useful tips for you.
Nibbling with a CNC punch press
If you are looking for a particular shape to be produced by CNC punching it may not always be a standard shape we would have a tool for. By using a series of standard CNC punch press tools we can create a more complex or non standard shape. These ventilation slots are a great example of combining 2 shapes together to produce a the desired effect without the need for new special tooling. We have used a standard rectangle and standard obround slot to produce the correct shape for this customers sheet metal box.
Tapped threads using a CNC punch press
If you need to secure two components together you will probably want to use a screw. Your options could simple include a nut in assembly or we could press in a sheet metal insert such as a Hank bush to create a fixed thread point. We can also tap a thread directly into the sheet metal. This technique is nicely demonstrated here using our Trumpf 3000 CNC punch press. The thread has been formed straight into the sheet and is ready to use without any further production operations.
CNC punching with banana tooling
Producing curved shapes in easy when laser cutting but needs a little more thought when using a CNC punch press. With the correct tooling curved shapes can be successfully produced. They may be large circular cut-outs, curved component outer profiles or curved slots such as these. This pattern of slots are used for a ventilation area with a small fan and was punched using curved banana tooling.
CNC punched mild steel
And here’s the complete component in its CNC punched nest. These are just a few of the design ideas which make CNC punching such a flexible technique when it comes to manufacturing sheet metal work in the UK. If you want to investigate further the standard CNC tooling we have available please take a look at our tooling pages. All these design features are supported by Radan CAD/CAM sheet metal software which we use across the board on our CNC punch press and laser cutting machines.
If you are looking for design ideas for CNC punching your sheet metal project please give V and F Sheet Metal a call. We often save our customers money by suggesting alternative ideas using standard tooling that we already have on the shelf.