Device and method for forming a gasket hole

摘要

A gasket punch and method for forming a gasket hole. The gasket punch is a single piece having a spherical head and a handle whereby the punch may be used to form gasket holes of various sizes up to the spherical head diameter with the gasket material on the machine part or platen and without the necessity of first forming an error prone pattern in the gasket material. The handle may have a diameter which is less than the spherical head diameter whereby the handle may be easily held and manipulated and the amount of material of which the punch is composed may be minimized. In order to provide a suitably small handle diameter without unnecessarily reducing strength and toughness, the gasket punch is preferably composed of forged steel. The gasket hole is formed by aligning the spherical head over the machine part hole with the gasket material therebetween and striking the anvil end of the handle with a hammer or causing the spherical head to impact the gasket material by a machine so that the gasket material is pinched between the spherical head and the machine part or platen hole edge and thereby severed due to the force of impact.