Also known as a forming press, a machine press is a tool used in the manufacturing industry to deform a workpiece under high pressure. There are different types of machines presses, including press brakes, punch presses, shop presses and more. The defining characteristic of all machine presses, however, is that they press a workpiece using high pressure to change the shape of a workpiece.

How Machine Presses Work

While the exact mechanics vary depending on the type of machine press, most machine presses work by pressing a plate or die onto or against a workpiece. Once the workpiece is positioned underneath the machine press’s plate or die, the tool setter activates the machine press. Using hydraulic pressure, the machine press pushes the plate or die against the surface of the workpiece, which causes the workpiece’s shape to deform.

Punch Press

A punch press looks like an ordinary machine press, but it’s used to create holes in workpieces rather than to change the shape of workpieces. Typically controlled via CNC, a punch press holds a die that’s forced against a workpiece using the same high pressure as created by traditional machine presses. The presence of the die allows the punch press to create holes in workpieces.