A button die is used in a hole puncher to create a button-shaped material after punching. Proper sizing of the two dies is important to prevent damage and injury. Inspection and cleaning are necessary for safety and accuracy.
A button die is a part of a die set that installs into a hole puncher. It gets its name from the button shape of the material left behind after a hole has been punched. The die sits in the lower holder of the punch, providing support for the material receiving the punched hole. In the movable upper jaw of the button punch is a piercing die which slides into an opening located in the center of the button punch. Proper sizing of the two dies will provide a hole in a distortion free material. Using an incorrect combination of buttons and punch dies will damage the material and dies and cause injury to the punch operator.
The difference between the die hole diameter and the punch die diameter changes based on the type and thickness of the material being punched. Thinner, softer materials require tighter tolerances to create a round hole without damaging the material. Metals and other hard materials require more space between the two molds to prevent the material from binding to the mold. The bonded material will cause pressure to build up inside the button die, causing damage to the die or possibly causing the die to shatter and send pieces flying towards the person using the button punch. After the dies have been matched, another often overlooked step can also involve the dies breaking and flying fragments.
Dies not centered correctly will cause the cutting edge of a hole die to contact the edge of a button die. The resulting collision will create or shatter the dies and send pieces of the die flying towards the punch operator at high speed. Manually lowering the punch die into the button die opening before use will allow an operator to adjust the position of the punch die to match the position of the die opening. Constantly checking and adjusting the alignment between the two dies will ensure that the punching operation continues smoothly.
Constant inspection of the cut area located around the edge of a die hole ensures that the hole left in the punched material remains round and has clean edges. A damaged die must be replaced immediately to ensure correct hole size and operator safety using the punch. Cleaning material residue from the mold after each use keeps the edges of the mold hole visible for inspection.
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