punchholes

Punchholes are holes created by a punching process, typically done with a punch and die. The resulting openings can be circular or other shapes and are used across many industries for fastening, alignment, ventilation, drainage, or decorative purposes. While the term is often associated with paper punched for binders, punchholes also appear in leather, fabric, metal, and plastic products.

The main approaches involve manual or machine tools. Manual hole punching uses handheld punches, paper punches, or rotary punches for small batches or hobby work. Machine punching employs punch presses, turret punches, or CNC-driven systems that can produce many holes rapidly and with high precision. Perforation, a related method, creates a series of consecutive holes or slits to form a continuous pattern or weak points in a material.

Materials and applications vary widely. In offices, standard paper punchers create three or more evenly spaced holes for ring binders. In manufacturing, punch presses produce holes for fasteners, grommets, or joints in metal sheets and leather goods. Textile and fashion industries use leather or fabric punches to create eyelets or decorative perforations. Architectural and industrial panels may incorporate perforated patterns for light diffusion, acoustics, or ventilation.

Design considerations include hole size and shape, spacing, edge distance from borders, material thickness, and burr management. Proper deburring and finishing improve edge quality and function, while safety practices help prevent injuries during operation.