Abstract: A center punching apparatus is disclosed as having an upper die base and a lower die base relatively movable. An upper die is mounted on the upper die base facing downwardly and on the lower die base a rotatable turntable is mounted for rotation about an axis coaxial with the upper die. A movable table on the turntable holds the workpiece of a material to be punched and is movable accurately in X and Y directions by micrometers for independent movement. The workpiece can thus be moved in X and Y directions on the apparatus without relating the movements to any X and Y coordinate system on the workpiece. The workpiece is accurately marked with reference indicia such as a circle, a line or a plurality of points for accurately monitoring the position of the indicia by direct visual viewing of the indicia through a microscope. The workpiece is accurately positioned by rotating the turntable and moving of the movable table along X and Y directions with the material to be punched thereon.