Abstract: The punch stripper of the invention prevents dimpling distortion of thin workpieces and permits punching operations close to the edge of a workpiece, or close to a surface discontinuity such as a rib, while avoiding damage to the stripper. The stripper includes a resilient stripper cap profiled to narrow in the direction of the workpiece with a spherical end surface being preferred.

Abstract: A punch is formed by heat hardening a tool steel body previously machined to define a punch body portion having an end opening cavity including a conical end opening portion and a cylindrical base portion; inserting a cylindrically shaped hard and abrasive resistant punch element into the cavity through the conical end portion for press-fit assembly within the cylindrical base portion; conductively heating the punch body immediately adjacent the conical end portion up to the melting temperature of a bonding material and overfilling a space defined by the conical end portion and the punch element with such bonding material, while preventing migration of hardness altering heat axially within the punch body away from the area of the cavity; air cooling the punch body to solidify the bonding material and thereby bond the punch element to the punch body; and grinding away overflow portions of the bonding material to provide a "radius" of bonding material blended into the punch element and body portion.