sheetmetal parts

Roper-Whitney is one of the big names in this. They will make any punch/die set for you, but they also have a large selection of custom types. Round, square, rectangular, oval, etc.

The punch press is sized based on the material and largest punch you will be using. I have a 5-ton foot-operated press. It has a big iron weight attached to the pedal that increases the impact.

See

for more info, and hopefully there is a distributor in your area. Don't forget to check eBay. Pexto is another make.

Jon

Roger, I specialize in making and using an inexpensive type of blanking die that could be just what you want. They are one-piece dies and will work in a hydraulic press (that's what I use) without a die shoe, just smooth plates. Check out

for pictures and contact info.

Dar Shelton

A hydraulic press will work. The book "Hydraulic Die-Forming for Jewelers and Metalsmiths" has a lot of good info. You might also try poking around on the Ganoksin site (

) and the Bonny Doon Engineering site ( ). Depending on what type and thickness of metal you're punching, how many pieces you need, how much accuracy you need, your equipment and skills, etc., you may be able to make your own dies.

Bert

Roger Hull wrote:

of die made from a single thin plate of tool steel.

aluminum airplane wing parts, the concept was

Blanking System" in the early.mid 1980's.

***a couple minor points may want clarification:

are much less expensive (if you buy them (by the

***The above is generally speaking, of course. The least expensive conventional die sets are very low priced for small stuff,stock sizes, even new, and the bigger more elaborate ones I make get a bit pricey.

and much more approachable if you want to make them .

***This , of course, means approachable to the average person, without a mill and lathe in their garage. The basic tool for cutting a pancake die is a jewelers saw. Of course it takes more than that .......