A punch tool for forming holes or apertures in workpieces is described. The tool includes a primary cylinder containing a movable ram and a secondary cylinder containing another movable ram. The primary and secondary cylinders are in hydraulic communication with each other. The primary cylinder is releasably engageable with a powered press tool and various dies or punches can be attached at the secondary cylinder. Also described are systems of powered tools and the punch tools, and methods of forming holes in workpieces using the punch tools.

A punching apparatus includes punching tools and actuators positioned above and aligned with the respective punching tools to actuate the punching tools along an operating direction so as to interact with a piece to be worked. The punching tools and the actuators are arranged side by side along at least one row. The punching apparatus includes at least one barrier optical sensor, suitable to generate a light beam that is put side by side to the row of punching tools and actuators, and reference elements, each of which is associated to a respective punching tool and/or actuator to intercept the light beam. The barrier optical sensor is arranged to detect changes in the light beam produced by one of the reference elements moving along the operating direction so as to measure a position and/or a stroke and/or a speed of a punching tool associated to the reference element.

A clamping assembly includes a first jaw having a plurality of alternating grooves and lands formed thereon, a second jaw having a plurality of alternating grooves and lands formed thereon, and a spring provided between the first and second jaws. The jaws are pivotable relative to each other. The jaws are attached to a draw stud. The draw stud is formed from an elongated cylinder which has a conventional thread form formed on one end thereof and a plurality of alternating grooves and lands formed on the other end thereof. The alternating grooves and lands formed on the jaws mesh with the alternating grooves and lands formed on the draw stud to mate the jaws with the draw stud.

A hand-held knockout driver includes a main housing having a handle portion, a motor positioned within the main housing, a pump assembly driven by the motor, and a secondary housing coupled to the main housing and defining a bore therein. The hand-held knockout driver also includes a working piston moveable within the bore from a rest position to an actuated position to define a piston throw distance therebetween. The hand-held knockout driver also includes a draw stud coupled to the working piston, a die coupled to the secondary housing, and a punch coupled to the draw stud opposite the working piston for movement therewith relative to the die. The die has a depth greater than the piston throw distance.

A draw stud assembly for use with a knockout punch tool having a movable piston, includes a connector attachable to the movable piston, a draw stud, and a quick connect mechanism. The quick connect mechanism includes mating first and second thread segments on the connector and the draw stud, respectively. The connector and the draw stud are movable between a first relative orientation where the mating first and second thread segments are misaligned to permit axial movement between the connector and the draw stud, and a second relative orientation where the mating first and second thread segments are aligned and engaged to inhibit axial movement between the connector and the draw stud.

A knockout punch tool set is provided. The knockout punch tool set includes a punch, a die, a draw stud, and a driving tool. The draw stud is configured to be used with both a powered and a manual driving tool. The draw stud includes a driving end with a recess. The recess of the draw stud is couplable to a square drive to allow for use with the powered driving tool. The driving end of the draw stud further includes outer surfaces positioned around the recess to allow for engagement with a manual driving tool. In various embodiments, the punch tool set includes a step bit couplable to the draw stud.

A punching tool that is capable of being used and modified independently of the shape of an opening to be punched, and is capable of being used for all round, angular and/or special-shaped tool contours. The punching tool generally comprises a cylinder with a fastener and a die having a lead-through for the fastener and a cavity with a stamp that is configured to connect to the fastener such that a spacer bushing is held to the cylinder.

A tool for punching a work piece has a multi-punch surface equipped to punch one or more hole in a work piece with interchangeable punch surfaces and uses a threaded draw bar and threaded nut, wherein the draw bar is configured to fit in die punch and maintain a punch surface relative to a die holder.