How do you calculate punching force?
Multiply the cut perimeter by the sheet thickness and the shear strength: F = L x t x tau. With millimeters and megapascals the result is newtons. Divide by 1,000 for kilonewtons.
Calculate hole-punching force from perimeter, thickness, and shear strength. A 20 mm hole in 3 mm mild steel needs about 65.03 kN (6.63 metric tons).
Punching Force
65.03kN
F = L × t × τ
F is in newtons when the cut perimeter and thickness are in millimeters and shear strength is in megapascals (1 MPa = 1 N/mm²). Round holes use L = π × diameter, squares use L = 4 × side, and rectangles use L = 2 × (length + width). Metric tons are tonne-force: newtons ÷ 9806.65. The mild-steel preset is 345 MPa, a common shop estimate. Aluminum 6061-T6 uses its typical published shear strength of 207 MPa. The 304 stainless preset is 412 MPa, estimated as 80% of a 515 MPa tensile strength. Use a custom shear strength for other alloys, and choose a press with capacity above this force.
A 20 mm round hole in 3 mm mild steel needs about 65.03 kN (6.63 metric tons) of punching force. Force equals cut perimeter times thickness times shear strength. That hole has a perimeter of pi times 20 mm, and the mild-steel preset uses 345 MPa, so F = 62.83 mm x 3 mm x 345 MPa = 65.03 kN. This is the force to punch a hole in sheet metal, not a time clock.
Looking for a time clock? This page calculates hole-punching force, not hours worked. Use the punch clock calculator for clock-in, clock-out, and an unpaid lunch.
F = L × t × τ
A 20 mm round punch through 3 mm mild steel uses a perimeter of 62.83 mm and a shear strength of 345 MPa. Force equals 62.83 times 3 times 345, which is 65031 N, 65.03 kN, and 6.63 metric tons.
F is in newtons when the cut perimeter and thickness are in millimeters and shear strength is in megapascals (1 MPa = 1 N/mm²). Round holes use L = π × diameter, squares use L = 4 × side, and rectangles use L = 2 × (length + width). Metric tons are tonne-force: newtons ÷ 9806.65. The mild-steel preset is 345 MPa, a common shop estimate. Aluminum 6061-T6 uses its typical published shear strength of 207 MPa. The 304 stainless preset is 412 MPa, estimated as 80% of a 515 MPa tensile strength. Use a custom shear strength for other alloys, and choose a press with capacity above this force.
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Multiply the cut perimeter by the sheet thickness and the shear strength: F = L x t x tau. With millimeters and megapascals the result is newtons. Divide by 1,000 for kilonewtons.
About 65.03 kN, or 6.63 metric tons. The perimeter is pi times 20 mm (62.83 mm) and the mild-steel preset uses 345 MPa: 62.83 x 3 x 345 = 65,031 N.
Use the alloy shear strength in megapascals. The mild-steel preset is 345 MPa, a common shop estimate. Aluminum 6061-T6 uses 207 MPa, a typical published shear strength. The 304 stainless preset is 412 MPa, estimated as 80 percent of a 515 MPa tensile strength. Choose custom and enter a value when you have data for the exact alloy.
Divide newtons by 9,806.65 to get metric tons (tonne-force). 65,031 N is 6.63 metric tons. Select a press with capacity above the calculated force.
No. This page estimates the force to punch a hole in sheet metal. A punch clock calculator totals paid hours from clock-in and clock-out times.