Forming
CNC punching for volume parts and formed features
When you are making the same part in quantity, a turret punch is faster and cheaper per piece than a laser, and it can form louvers, dimples, and countersinks that cutting alone cannot.
In summary
Custom Metal Designs runs CNC turret punching at its shop in Central Florida. A punch press stamps holes, slots, and repeated patterns into sheet metal at high speed, and with the right tooling it also forms features such as louvers, embosses, countersinks, and extrusions in the same operation.
Punching earns its keep on production volumes and on parts with a lot of repeated features, where its speed and low per-part cost beat laser cutting. CMD advises on laser versus punch per job rather than defaulting to one. Punched parts feed straight into in-house brake forming and welding. CMD is ISO 9001:2015 certified.
Key facts
- Fast, repeatable holes and patterns at volume
- Forms louvers, dimples, and countersinks in one hit
- Lower per-part cost than laser on production runs
- Feeds straight into in-house forming and welding
01Capability detail
What punching is right for
Punching pays off when the same shape is made in quantity. Once the tooling is set, each part comes off fast, so the cost per piece drops as the run grows. It is the process of choice for enclosures, panels, and chassis with many identical holes or vents.
The other reason to punch is forming. Tooling can raise a louver for airflow, dimple a stiffening rib, or push a countersink, all in the same setup that cuts the part. For exact material grades, thickness, and sheet size, send us your drawing and we'll confirm.
01 / Holes and patterns
The same shape, many times
Repeated holes, slots and cut-outs come off fast once the tooling is set.
02 / Louvers
Airflow, formed in place
Tooling raises a louver in the same setup that cuts the part.
03 / Formed features
Countersinks and dimples
Push a countersink or dimple a stiffening rib without a second operation.
Next step
Making the same part in quantity?
Upload the PDF drawing and the run size. If punching is the cheaper route, we'll tell you, and quote it.