CNC Turret Punching & Metal FormingPunch
We punch and form sheet metal at our Yatala factory on a TRUMPF TruMatic 6000 punch-laser combination machine. Louvres, tapped holes, countersinks and cut-outs go in with the punch while the laser cuts the profile, in one setup, on one datum. Serving Brisbane, the Gold Coast and South East Queensland.
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How it is made
How a part gets punched on our TruMatic 6000
A CNC turret punch makes one hole per hit. The program pulls a tool from the turret, the ram drives it through the sheet, and the sheet moves to the next position under the head. Round, square, hex and oblong holes go in one stroke at a time, hundreds of strokes a minute.
Forming works the same way. A louvre, an extruded thread hole or a cup form is pressed into the sheet by a forming tool in the same stroke, not added later on a second machine. That is the part a laser can’t do: a laser removes metal, it can’t push it into shape.
On the TruMatic 6000 the punch and the laser share one machine. The laser cuts the outer profile and any complex geometry, the punch head handles every repeating hole and formed feature, and the sheet never leaves the table in between. One setup, one datum, nothing re-fixtured, so part one and part two hundred line up the same way.
TRUMPF TruMatic 6000 with SheetMaster
Our punching capability
| Punching thickness | Up to 3 mm |
| Hole profiles | Round, square, hex and oblong slot |
| Tapping | M3, M4, M5 and M6 |
| Countersinking | M3 to M6 |
| Cup forms | 25 mm and 48 mm |
| Other forming | Roller beading, single-hit and continuous louvres, ball deburring, film slitting, centre punch |
| Materials | Mild steel, stainless steel, aluminium, zinc-coated and galvanised steel |
Punching & forming in the same setup as laser cuttingForming
Every feature below is punched or formed while the laser cuts the part, so it comes off the machine finished.
Louvres
Cut the part and form louvres in one setup
Louvres
Extruded thread holes
Cut the part and form extruded thread holes in one setup
Extruded thread holes
Countersink holes
Cut the part and punch countersunk holes in one setup
Countersink holes
Cup forms
Cut the part and press cup forms in one setup
Cup forms
Square punched holes
Cut the part and punch square holes in one setup
Square punched holes
Countersinking
Cut the part and form countersinks in one setup
Countersinking
Oblong holes
Cut the part and punch oblong slots in one setup
Oblong holes
Roller beading
Cut the part and roll stiffening beads in one setup
Roller beading
Punch, laser or both
What the punch-laser combo machine changes
A laser-only shop can cut almost any profile, but it can’t form a louvre, extrude a thread or press a cup. Send a louvred panel to a laser-only shop and you’ll get a slot back. A standalone turret punch can form all of those, but the outer profile still has to be cut somewhere else, which means a second setup and a second chance for features to drift out of position.
The TruMatic 6000 takes that trade-off away. The laser cuts what lasers do best, the punch forms what only a punch can, and it all happens on one datum. Where a feature is better lasered, like a hole smaller than the material is thick, the program simply switches to the laser for that feature.
Our Laser Punch Combo Machine In Use
Our TRUMPF TruMatic 6000 Laser Punch Combo delivers high-speed precision cutting and punching in a single setup, ideal for complex parts and efficient production.
Solution for your business
What is sheet metal punching used for?
Punching and laser cutting on the same machine means fewer handling steps, shorter lead times and a lower cost per part. This is what the punch head produces:
Before the job runs
Five things we check before a punching job runs
Most punching problems are decided before the sheet reaches the table. These are the checks our programmers run on every drawing:
Industries ApplicationPunching
This machine eliminates the need for multiple setups, saving time and reducing costs, especially for complex or highly detailed parts.
Electrical & Switchboards
Enclosures, switchboard panels, and cable trays
HVAC & Air Conditioning
Vent grilles, duct flanges, and system casings
Automotive & Transport
Mounting plates, battery enclosures, and brackets
Architectural & Building
Decorative screens, cladding panels, and balustrades
Furniture & Retail Fit-Outs
Cabinet frames, brackets, and support structures
Yatala, Queensland
Sending us a punching job
Send a DXF or DWG for flat parts and a STEP model for anything that gets folded, plus a PDF drawing with the material, thickness, finish and quantity. If a feature needs to face a particular way, or flatness is critical, mark it on the drawing and we’ll plan the run around it.
Everything happens at our Yatala factory: punching, laser cutting, CNC folding, welding, powder coating and assembly under one roof. We deliver to Brisbane, the Gold Coast and the Sunshine Coast on our own trucks and freight Australia-wide.
New to punching? Our sheet metal punching guide explains the process in more depth, and laser cutting vs combi punch compares the two.
GCI Group
Metal Punching FAQs
What is CNC turret punching?
CNC turret punching makes holes and formed features in sheet metal using tools held in a rotating turret. The machine selects a tool, strikes the sheet, moves to the next position and repeats, one hole per hit. At GCI Group we run a TRUMPF TruMatic 6000, which puts the punch head and a laser on the same machine.
Should I choose punching or laser cutting?
Laser cutting suits complex profiles and small or intricate holes. Punching suits repeated holes and anything that needs forming, like louvres, extruded threads and cup forms, which a laser can’t make. On our punch-laser combination machine you don’t have to choose: the laser cuts the profile and the punch forms the features in one setup.
How thick can you punch?
Our TruMatic 6000 punches sheet up to 3 mm thick. Thicker material is cut on our flatbed fibre and CO2 lasers, which handle mild steel and stainless steel up to 25 mm.
What is the minimum hole size you can punch?
As a rule, a punched hole should be at least as wide as the material is thick. A 1 mm hole in 2 mm steel breaks punches, so features below that ratio are cut with the laser instead, on the same machine.
Can a laser cut a louvre?
No. A laser removes material; it can’t form the angled hood that lets a louvre shed water. A louvre has to be pressed by a forming tool on a punch press, which is why we form them on the punch head of the TruMatic 6000.
What materials can you punch?
Mild steel, stainless steel, aluminium, and zinc-coated or galvanised steel. Stainless is harder on tooling, so it is priced a little higher than mild steel.
Do you take one-off punching jobs?
Yes. We take one-off and prototype work as well as production runs. There is a $250 minimum order to cover programming and machine setup, and larger quantities spread that setup cost across more parts.
At GCI Group, we provide high quality sheet metal fabrication, including: Flatbed laser cutting, tube laser cutting & laser punch combination for steel, aluminium, copper & brass. We are a top rated laser cutting in Brisbane, Gold coast & laser cutting Queensland. We also offer CNC folding, powder coating, welding and assembly services.