US Patent 7168364 Method and apparatus for marking workpieces

A method and an apparatus are provided for marking a sheet-shaped workpiece using a marking tool. The marking tool is mounted in a punch holder of a punch press and a counter-support is fixed in place on a side opposite of a marking surface of the workpiece to be marked. The surface of the workpiece is marked by displacing the workpiece in its plane while engaging the marking tool with the workpiece. In one form, a support roller provides counter-support. In another form, an elastic element is cooperatively associated with the punch stroke of the punch press to translate an exactly defined contact pressure force between the tool tip and the workpiece to be marked.