An automatic center punch is a hand tool used to mark a dimple in a workpiece, such as a piece of metal, performing the same job as an ordinary center punch but without needing to be struck with a hammer. Pressing the tool against the workpiece stores energy in an internal spring, which is then released as a sudden impulse that drives the punch and produces the dimple, and because that impulse is highly repeatable the tool can make uniform marks across many workpieces.
Facts
Introduced When (Circa) OriginAutomatic center punch designs descend from late-19th-century efforts to improve on ordinary punches that needed a separate striking tool, aiming for repeatable impact and one-handed convenience; the earliest types were not fully automatic, relying on a captive weight the user lifted or drew back by hand. 1 Sources
1. Automatic Center Punch (Wikipedia)
Wikimedia FoundationHistory section, paragraph 3
The earliest US patents for the modern automatic center punch were filed during 1904 by Hartley and Stryhal for designs using a leaf spring catch to release the hammer, both assigned to Brown and Sharpe.
History section, paragraph 2
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.
View the Source Reader Challenges (0)
No disputes yet. Spotted an error or a better source? Open the first one.
Sign in to dispute this or suggest a correction.