Abstract: This invention has for its object to eliminate the problem of loud noise and violent vibrations in machines having transient force characteristics of the type appearing in punching or cutting presses.According to the invention this is achieved by means of a damping device comprising a housing defining a chamber filled with a hydraulic fluid said fluid being pre-compressed by a first piston acted on by the force and said pre-compressing being carried out to a pressure corresponding the force to be dampened. Immediately before the force relief the force is arranged to act on a second piston of bigger cross sectional area said second piston preventing a too rapid force relief of the press frame due to the pre-compressed hydraulic fluid.The force relief occurs rather slowly due to the fact that the hydraulic fluid trapped in the chamber is exhausted via control valve keeping the pressure in the chamber almost constant and only permitting a certain volume flow therefrom.