Enter your Material Type, Material Thickness, and Hole Shape (along with Diameter, Length, or Width depending on the shape) to calculate the Required Punch Force — plus get the Punch Perimeter, Shear Area, and force in kN so you have everything you need before the press comes down.
Required Punch Force
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Force in kN
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Punch Perimeter
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Shear Area
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Punch force is the amount of force required to shear through sheet metal to create a hole. Calculating the correct force ensures proper hole formation without cracking or deformation, and helps select the right punching equipment.
Punch force is calculated using the formula: Force = Perimeter × Thickness × Shear Strength. The perimeter depends on the hole shape, thickness is the material thickness, and shear strength varies by material type.
The main factors are material type (shear strength), material thickness, hole size, and hole shape. Harder materials like stainless steel require more force than softer materials like aluminum.
For a 10mm diameter hole in 2mm thick stainless steel, you would need approximately 8.8 tons of force, calculated using the perimeter (31.4mm) × thickness (2mm) × shear strength (700 N/mm²).
Round holes require force based on their circumference, while shaped holes (square, rectangle, oblong) use their full perimeter. Shaped holes typically require more force due to their larger perimeter-to-area ratio.
Yes, but you need to multiply the individual hole force by the number of holes being punched simultaneously. Ensure your press has sufficient tonnage capacity for the total combined force.
Insufficient force can result in incomplete shearing, rough hole edges, material deformation, or punch breakage. Always use the calculated force plus a safety margin for optimal results.
Punching force increases linearly with material thickness. Doubling the thickness doubles the required force, as you're shearing through twice the material cross-section.