Abstract: With a punching machine with at least one punching carriage, which can be moved transverse to the advance direction of a material belt, with a piston cylinder unit arranged in the punching carriage, which effects the punching stroke of a tool stamp and, with an abutment for receiving a tool die-plate, it should be guaranteed that, a female die is always realized absolutely exactly below the punching material opposite the male die. This is achieved in that, the abutment is firmly arranged in a defined position to the piston cylinder unit in the punching carriage carrying the piston cylinder unit.