Micro-Mark Punch & Die Set

[marc_reusser]

Today in the mail I received the new Micro-Mark punch an die set. Their item #83513.

http://www.ares-server.com/Ares/Ares.asp?MerchantID=RET01229&Action=Catalog&Type=Product&ID=83513

The set comes packaged in a plastic bag, with the punches in enclosed in a seperate plastic bag inside. There is a small lable with "instructions" attached to the outside of the bag.

The Punch plate is cleanly cut, though there was just a slight bit of acrylic residue/flash in one of the larger die holes, but this cleaned out easily by just pushing the punch through by hand. The upper plastic plate fits snuggly over the locator posts, and does take a bit of gentle wiggling/pressure to seperate them, however this keeps the die holes/plates well aligned.

Micro Mark lists the 9 hole/punch sizes as ranging from 1mm (.039) to 5.0mm (.197) daimeter, spaced/sized in increments of .05mm (0.0197)

I sized the punches in my calipers, and got the following sizes:

0.965 mm  (.038)
1.473 mm  (.058)
1.943 mm  (.0765)
2.464 mm  (.097)
2.959 mm  (.1165)
3.480 mm  (.137)
3.975 mm  (.1565)
4.470 mm  (.176)
4.966 mm  (.1955)

I tested the punces sheet styrene ranging from .005 to .025 in thickness, and got clean crisp holes and punch pieces. The circle punch outs from the thicker sheet had just the slightest amount of compression crowning at the edges, but nothing that is not common with die other punch and die sets.

Though it lacks the hole centering alignment option/adapter for punching concentric holes/washers like some sets, at $39.95 (+ shipping) it seems like a very good alternative to the Waldron "WR0018 Precision Punch Die Set", which retails for $59.00, and has only 6 punch sizes of .039, .059, .081, .089, .120, .160.

I advise that those that purchase this set also consider purchasing a plastic/nylon headed toolmakers mallet/hammer, (if they do not already own one) to tap the dies without damaging them.

Now lets hope they also come out with a Micro set for holes/punches from .039 down to .012...and maybe a "Hex" punch and die set



Marc

[finescalerr]

That could be very useful! Thanks, Marc.

Russ

[Krusty]

Now lets hope they also come out with a Micro set for holes/punches from .039 down to .012...and maybe a "Hex" punch and die set.

Historex Agents in the UK produce a hex punch set. It works quite well, although I find I can get slightly crisper results cutting slices off Plastruct hex rod.

[marc_reusser]

Though posted in another thread, I thought I would post this here also, as an example.

This is the joint reinforcing on the underside of a 1/48 scale Tiger tank sponson.  By setting up a simple guide jig with two pieces of styrene attached with double stick tape, I am able to get the edge pattern and holes, by simply sliding a styrene strip through the jig, and punching at the needed locations. [The set on the left is the Waldron "Micro" set, the one on the right is the one from Micro-Mark].



Marc

[marklayton]

I too recently purchased the Micro-Mark punch set.  I've been experimenting with cutting dials printed on paper and am getting mixed results.  Some paper stock leaves a ragged edge, other does not.  Resin-coated (RC) photo paper works well, but conventional white bond paper does not.

Mark

[ho henry]

I first came accross a competitors unit about a year and a half ago which was quite expensive, then quickly discovered Micro Marks version which not only proved quite inexpensive but also quite satisfactory in function.

 Henry