Extended modules > Creo Elements/Direct Sheet Metal > Apply punch and stamp tools > Create hole features with punch tools
  
Create hole features with punch tools
Creating hole features with punch tools means to choose a tool from the technology data base (TDB) and use it to punch the hole through a sheet metal part.
Before you are allowed to choose a tool in the Punch dialog box, you must specify the sheet metal part with which you want to work, and a workplane or a face. The defaults are the active part and workplane. The workplane must be positioned directly on either a top or a bottom face of the sheet metal part.
Once you have defined the part and the workplane or face, you are free to specify the other parameters, starting with the tool type.
You will generally start specifying the tool type and the punch tool. Click Tool Type to display a table with the available punch tool types. These can be the punch tools of the demoshop plus a number of types specified by your system administrator.
Choose a tool type from the table. A second table is then displayed with all tools of that type which are available in the current shop.
Depending on the tool type, the displayed table has a number of column entries which define the tool.
To specify a tool, you can either click anywhere in the table row of the tool and then click Apply, or you simply double-click the table row. The result is the same:
The tool feedback appears attached to the cursor.
The entry defined appears in the box next to Tool.
The Adjust, Angle, and Depth boxes are filled in with tool and material dependent default values.
Creo Elements/Direct Sheet Metal prompts you to position the tool or to alter one of the parameters.
You can alter the values of Adjust, Angle, and Depth. The new values of Adjust and Angle are immediately reflected by the cursor attached feedback.
To position the tool click where you want the punch or hole feature to appear. You can position the tool as often as you want.
To remove a mispositioned tool click Pos Back. Each clicking of Pos Back removes one further tool position. Clicking Next Punch applies the positioned tools, but you stay in the routine, ready to choose another tool.
To remove a mispositioned tool feature click Punch Back. Each click removes the features created by the previous punch.
To finish the tool punch operation click .
Example: Place and apply several punch tools
In this example you will punch several hole features into a part. The graphic below shows the part before and after the operation.
1. Click Sheet Metal and then, in the Model Sheet group, click Punch. The Punch dialog box opens.
2. If necessary click Part in the Punch menu and specify the sheet metal part you want to work on.
3. Click Workplane in the Punch dialog box and specify a workplane that has been positioned on the face you want to punch.
Make sure the positioned workplane is active.
Or
Click Face and specify the face you want to punch.
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For the correct positioning of tools, you may want to create construction lines before entering the punch command.
4. Click Tool Type. Creo Elements/Direct Sheet Metal opens the table with the available tool types.
5. Double-click Round in the Punch Types table. Creo Elements/Direct Sheet Metal displays a table with the available round punch tools.
6. Double-click a tool from the tool table. Creo Elements/Direct Sheet Metal attaches the tool feedback at its default reference point to the cursor. In case of round tools the default reference point is the tool center.
7. To place the tool click its position on the sheet. Make sure the violation zone feedback does not touch an edge. The 2D CoPilot helps you to decide a suitable position.
If you misposition the tool, click Pos Back and try again.
The tool stays attached to the cursor. With each click you position it once.
8. To perform the punch of the round holes, click .