Abstract: The punch, stripper and die holders of a punch press are moved bodily toward an indexable turret and automatically pick up a punch, a stripper and a die from the turret preparatory to being shifted bodily away from the turret to perform a punching operation. When the punching operation is completed, the holders return the tools to the turret, the turret is indexed and then the holders pick up a different set of tools from the turret. Means are provided for shielding vulnerable areas of the holders from debris created during the operation of a plasma-arc torch which is associated with the press. The tools on the turret also are shielded from the debris.

Abstract: Molten metal, slag and fumes created during the operation of a plasma-arc torch are discharged downwardly into a duct whose lower end is immersed in a tank of water. A stream of water is directed down the entire inner periphery of the duct and serves to cool and wash the duct. Fumes passing downwardly within the duct are directed into the tank and are quenched and cooled before bubbling upwardly into and being sucked from a housing which surrounds the lower end portion of the duct.

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: Part of the upper flange at the end portion of an I-beam is removed therefrom by cutting through the flange with a plasma-arc torch, the torch also forming a vertical cut through the lower flange of the beam. Thereafter, a shearing punch shears through the web of the beam to remove the lower flange from the end portion of the beam. Because a portion of the upper flange is removed from the beam prior to the shearing operation, the punch does not engage any substantial part of the upper flange and thus the punch may effect shearing of the web along a line located in close proximity to the junction of the web and the flanges.

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: The punch is surrounded by a tubular housing carrying a stripper plate and having a hinged door which is latched closed unless the punch is retracted to a tool change position. In addition, means sense the position of the door and prevent automatic cycling of the punch if the door is not closed. To adjust the stripper plate vertically, provision is made of compactly nested threaded rings and, to orient the punch angularly, provision is made of an adjusting mechanism which acts on a rod projecting from the upper end of a hydraulic cylinder and connected to a downwardly projecting ram for reciprocating the punch.

Abstract: Hydrodynamic unit rotor in which a central flange portion of an outer sheet metal shell is interleaved with metal connector plates. The connector plates and flange portion are secured to each other and to a small steel hub by annular electron beam welds.