Abstract: A workpiece is shifted forwardly and rearwardly beneath a punch and a transversely spaced cutting torch by a work table formed with a comparatively wide fore-and-aft extending throat for accommodating a die and a duct which underlie the punch and the torch, respectively. The throat is partially filled by platforms which normally support the overlying portions of the workpiece to reduce deflection thereof but which are adapted to be automatically moved out of the way of the rear of the table when the table is shifted forwardly.

Abstract: A workpiece is shifted forwardly and rearwardly beneath a punch and a transversely spaced cutting torch by a work table formed with a comparatively wide fore-and-aft extending throat for accommodating a die and a duct which underlie the punch and the torch, respectively. The throat is partially filled by platforms which normally support the overlying portions of the workpiece to reduce deflection thereof but which are adapted to be automatically moved out of the way of the rear of the table when the table is shifted forwardly.

Abstract: Small and regularly shaped holes are formed in a workpiece by the punch of a punch press while large and irregularly shaped holes are formed by a plasma-arc torch attached to the punch press. Fumes and molten metal resulting from operation of the torch are directed into an upright duct which underlies the workpiece, the upper end of the duct engaging the workpiece to prevent deformation thereof. When the punch is operating, the upper end of the duct is retracted downwardly to provide clearance for movable clamps which grip and position the workpiece.Additional fumes are collected in and sucked from a shroud which encloses the tip of the torch and which carries a collar for establishing the stand-off height of the torch.