Automatic center punch
spring loaded tool for making indentations
An automatic center punch is a hand tool used to produce a dimple in a workpiece (for example, a piece of metal). It performs the same function as an ordinary center punch but without the need for a hammer. When pressed against the workpiece, it stores energy in a spring, eventually releasing it as an impulse that drives the punch, producing the dimple. The impulse provided to the point of the punch is quite repeatable, allowing for uniform impressions to be made.
History
The patent history of automatic punches indicates two principal goals for the development of the tool: repeatability of impact, and convenience of operation. Other desirable properties include low recoil when triggered, ease of adjustment, and reliability.
A number of designs for automatic center punches have been developed since the late 19th century as improvements over punches requiring the use of a striking tool. The earliest types were not fully automatic, using a captive weight lifted by the user or a spring and weight drawn by the user to provide the striking impulse. A number of patents have been issued for these designs, and they continue to be referenced in patents into the 21st century. There are also a number of examples of hammer and punch combinations intended for one-handed use, but being modeled upon a conventional hammer striking a separate punch tool.
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This entry incorporates text from “Automatic center punch” on English Wikipedia. Contributors are listed in the page history. Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Selected authority identifiers and statements are retrieved from Wikidata under CC0; their references and qualifiers remain part of the verification path.