What is the tang on a press brake punch?
The tang is the locating feature at the top of the punch that seats in the machine's clamp. Its width and profile decide which tooling family the punch belongs to, and it is the first thing to measure when identifying an unknown tool.
What tang sizes are used on press brakes?
Three interfaces account for the great majority of press brakes: a 13 mm tang in the Amada and European families, a 20 mm safety tang in the Trumpf and Wila family, and a 1/2 inch (12.7 mm) shank in the American family.
| Interface | Tang or shank | Distinguishing feature | Typical machines |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amada | 13 mm tang | Amada heights and clamp geometry | Amada and machines that share the interface |
| European / Promecam | 13 mm tang | European heights, ≈ 60 mm die body | LVD, SafanDarley, Adira, Bystronic |
| Trumpf / Wila | 20 mm safety tang | Locking pin holes, 100 / 415 / 835 mm segments | Trumpf, Wila, Bystronic, many CNC brakes |
| American | 1/2 in (12.7 mm) shank | Punch held in a separate holder | Accurpress, Cincinnati, Pacific, Wysong |
Why is the 20 mm tang called a safety tang?
The 20 mm tang carries locking pins or a groove that retains the punch in the clamp even if the hydraulic or mechanical clamping pressure is released. That prevents the punch from dropping out of the ram during a tool change.
- Retention: the punch cannot fall out when the clamp is opened.
- Repeatability: the tang seats against a locating feature, so tool height repeats.
- Segments: commonly supplied in 100, 415 and 835 mm lengths so a tool set can be built to the bend length.
- The tang does not carry the bending load; the clamp and the punch shoulder do.
How do I measure an unknown tang?
Measure the overall tang width, the height of the tang step and the total punch height, then compare with the table above. The tang width separates the 20 mm family from the 13 mm family; the height and clamp separate Amada from European.
- Measure the tang width across its widest point.
- Measure the punch overall height from the shoulder to the tip.
- Note whether the tang has locking pin holes or a retention groove.
- Photograph the clamp with a ruler in shot.
- Send the photograph and measurements and the system can be confirmed before ordering.
Are 13 mm and 20 mm punches interchangeable?
No. The tang sizes differ and the clamps are different designs, so a 20 mm punch will not seat in a 13 mm clamp. Adapters exist for some combinations but they add height, which changes the tooling setup.
Related technical pages
Tooling compatibility guide
Identify a machine's interface in four measured steps.
Tooling standards compared
Tang, height, segment and clamp conventions for all four families.
Amada compatible tooling
13 mm tang punches and dies in 835 mm sets.
Trumpf / Wila compatible tooling
20 mm safety tang punches and dies.
Next step
Send a dimensioned sketch or a photograph of the tang and clamp and we will identify the interface and quote the right tooling.
Request a quotation