Abstract: A punch for attachment to a brace of a braced die has a hollow cutting nose with a leading end for cutting a material to be punched and a trailing end opposite the leading end. A shaft extends from the trailing end of the nose and is sized to pass through an aperture in a brace. An upper retainer is joined to the shaft and has an upper retaining surface adapted to abut an upper surface of a brace. A lower retainer is joined to the shaft and has a lower retaining surface adapted to abut a lower surface of a brace. An internal waste evacuation chute extends from the interior of the hollow cutting nose and through the shaft for evacuating plugs of punched material from the nose.

Abstract: A steel rule cutting die is provided and includes a baseboard, and cutting knifes including an integral cross member having holes having a first diameter. The cutting knifes may be bent to form an enclosed cavity. Fasteners including a head and a shaft having second and third diameters, respectively, are provided, and are disposable within the hole in the cross member for connecting the cutting knife to the baseboard. Washers including a fourth outer diameter and a hole having a fifth diameter, are provided. The first diameter may be greater than the third diameter, the second diameter may be greater than the fifth diameter, and the fourth diameter may be greater than the first diameter, such that, when the washer is disposed under the fastener head, the washer prevents the head from entering the hole in the cross member, and facilitates translation of cavities parallel to the baseboard.