The top die of a press brake is called the punch.

• A. The statement is False
• B. It depends on the model
• C. True, the top die is called the punch
• D. Not enough information

Answer: (C)

In a press brake, the two forming tools are called the punch and the die. The upper tool is named the punch because its job is to push the sheet metal into the lower tool, which is the die, to form the bend. The die sits in the lower die holder and provides the shape and space for the metal to bend around as the punch presses into it. Because this upper tool is consistently referred to as the punch in standard sheet metal practice, the statement is true. Some specialized setups might use different terminology, but the common, widely taught convention identifies the top tool as the punch and the bottom as the die.