Method for fine cutting of workpieces and fine cutting press

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for fine blanking workpieces (3a) from a starting material (3) in a fine blanking press and a fine blanking press, wherein the starting material (3) is clamped between a punch guide plate (5) and a cutting plate (6) as well as between a punch (4) guided in the punch guide plate (5) and a counter-holder (7) guided in the cutting plate (6), and the unit of punch (4) and counter-holder (7) is moved relative to the unit of punch guide plate (5) and cutting plate (6), whereby the workpiece (3a) is displaced along the cutting gap (6a) formed between the cutting plate (6) and the counter-holder (7) relative to the starting material (3), in particular being separated from the starting material (3), wherein lubricant (13) is applied to the effective zone (18) between the cutting plate (6) and the workpiece (3a).wherein the lubricant (13) is supplied to the working zone (18) through the cutting gap (6a) between the cutting plate (6) and the counter holder (7).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a method for fine blanking of workpieces from a starting material in a fine blanking press, in which the starting material is clamped between a punch guide plate and a cutting plate, as well as between a punch guided in the punch guide plate and a counter-holder guided in the cutting plate, and the unit of punch and counter-holder is moved relative to the unit of punch guide plate and cutting plate, whereby the workpiece is displaced along the cutting gap formed between the cutting plate and the counter-holder relative to the starting material, in particular being separated from the starting material, wherein lubricant is applied to the working zone between the cutting plate and the workpiece.

[0002] The invention also relates to a fine blanking press for fine blanking workpieces from a starting material, comprising a punch guide plate and a cutting plate, as well as a punch guided in the punch guide plate and a counter-holder guided in the cutting plate, with which a starting material can be clamped between the punch guide plate and the cutting plate, as well as between the punch guided in the punch guide plate and the counter-holder guided in the cutting plate, and the unit of punch and counter-holder is movable relative to the unit of punch guide plate and cutting plate, whereby the workpiece can be displaced along the cutting gap formed between the cutting plate and the counter-holder relative to the starting material, in particular can be cut out of the starting material, wherein lubricant can be applied to the working zone between the cutting plate and the workpiece.

[0003] Fine blanking presses and fine blanking processes are generally known in the prior art.

[0004] In the prior art, as well as in the invention, the starting material can be, for example, in strip form, e.g., as sheet steel. In this case, the workpiece is usually cut completely from the starting material.

[0005] In the prior art, as in the invention, the starting material can also be a workpiece previously cut from a sheet of metal, from which a further section is cut out, or which is formed according to the steps mentioned above. Such a process step can, for example, be carried out in a progressive die of a fine blanking press.

[0006] The aforementioned relative movement takes place in the clamped state, in particular in which a constant clamping force is applied to the starting material between the elements of the two respective units during the movement, and the relative movement between the units is carried out with a cutting force or forming force.

[0007] The workpiece in question is a portion of the starting material that is either cut out from a remainder of the starting material or at least displaced relative to a remainder of the starting material. In the latter case, the workpiece remains connected to the rest of the starting material.

[0008] The aforementioned effective zone is the cutting gap, in particular a region of the cutting gap adjacent to the surface of the cutting insert on which the workpiece rests, and / or the cutting insert surface facing into the cutting gap, preferably the region of the cutting insert surface facing into the cutting gap closest to the workpiece, and thus, in particular, located opposite the counter-holder and along which the workpiece is moved during the relative movement. The effective zone is therefore the cutting gap and / or a portion of the surface of the cutting insert that extends in the direction of movement and, in relation to the counter-holder, defines the cutting gap. The effective zone can be smaller, when viewed in the stroke direction (the direction of the relative movement), than the total length of the cutting gap considered in the stroke direction.In particular, the length of the effective zone considered in the stroke direction may be smaller than or equal to the stroke width of the two aforementioned units relative to each other, or may be limited to the material thickness of the starting material considered in the stroke direction.

[0009] The application of lubricant into this effective zone is carried out to reduce friction and improve quality on those surface areas of the workpiece or the starting material that are created during the fine blanking process with the cutting plate and come into contact with the cutting plate.

[0010] According to the current state of the art, the lubricant is applied to the starting material before the fine blanking process, so that it is transferred through the starting material into the working zone. To achieve this, the lubricant must currently be applied over a large area, at least to the side of the starting material facing the cutting insert and the counterholder, for example by spraying. This results in high lubricant consumption, as areas of the starting material that are not in or do not enter the working zone during the fine blanking process are also coated with lubricant.

[0011] Against this background, the object of the invention is to improve the supply of lubricant to the working zone, in particular to save lubricant and to limit the distribution of lubricant on the workpiece.

[0012] According to the invention, this problem is solved by supplying the lubricant to the working zone through the cutting gap between the cutting plate and the counterholder in a method of the type mentioned above. The lubricant is thus supplied through the cutting gap parallel to or in the direction of movement of the counterholder.

[0013] In a fine blanking press of the type mentioned, the problem is solved by the fine blanking press including a device with which lubricant can be supplied to the working zone through the cutting gap between the cutting plate and the counter holder.

[0014] According to the invention, this ensures that lubricant is applied only where it is needed during the fine blanking process, namely in the cutting gap and / or on the surface areas of the workpiece that come into increasing contact with the surface areas of the cutting insert that define the cutting gap during the aforementioned relative movement. This effectively prevents the lubricant from spreading to other surface areas and thus reduces the amount of lubricant required.

[0015] Preferably, the invention provides that the lubricant is supplied to the effective zone through grooves or slots, preferably grooves or slots extending at least partially in the direction of the relative movement, which are arranged in the surface of the cutting plate facing the opposite surface of the counterholder and / or in the surface of the counterholder facing the opposite surface of the cutting plate. Channels can thus be formed which are bounded by the groove or slot and the surface of the opposing element.

[0016] The opposing surfaces preferably refer to those that form the cutting gap between them. Grooves / grooves formed in both surfaces may preferably be arranged offset from each other.

[0017] It is particularly preferred if such grooves or slots are not formed in the surface of the cutting insert, but only in the surface of the counterholder, extending in the stroke direction between its underside and surface and defining the cutting gap on the counterholder side. In this case, the grooves are prevented from impairing the surface quality of the workpiece during fine blanking at the cutting edge / surface.

[0018] Regardless of whether the grooves or slots are arranged in the surface of the counterholder or in the surface of the cutting plate, in a first preferred embodiment it is provided that the grooves / slots each extend over the substantially entire length of the surface as viewed in the stroke direction.

[0019] In a second preferred embodiment, it is provided that the set of all grooves / grooves extending in the stroke direction is divided into at least two groups of grooves / grooves, wherein the grooves / grooves of each group extend only over a (in particular, different) partial region of the total length of the surface considered in the stroke direction.

[0020] The grooves / grooves in two adjacent groups, successive in the stroke direction, are each connected by a circumferential groove / groove extending around the stroke direction on the surface. Preferably, the grooves / grooves extending in the stroke direction from different groups can be offset from each other in this circumferential direction.

[0021] Preferably, in the first or second embodiment, the invention provides that the grooves / grooves extending in the stroke direction, in particular those of the last group located towards the workpiece in the stroke direction, open into a circumferential groove / groove. This circumferential groove is incorporated into the surface at the workpiece-facing end of the surface, as viewed in the stroke direction, and is open towards the workpiece. This circumferential groove is thus located at the workpiece-facing end of the cutting gap and ensures that the lubricant can spread very easily along the cutting gap.The invention preferably provides that the lubricant is conveyed through the cutting gap, particularly in the direction of the starting material, by pressurizing the lubricant. For this purpose, a space filled with lubricant and pressurizable or pressurized during the cutting process is arranged in the fine blanking press, particularly in its lower tool part, which comprises the cutting plate and the counter-holder movably mounted therein. The cutting gap opens into this space, particularly into which the grooves / grooves open, or which is connected to the working zone via the cutting gap, particularly via the grooves / grooves preferably extending therein.

[0022] Pressurization to promote the lubricant through the cutting gap during the execution of the aforementioned relative movement of the units can be carried out by any device suitable for temporarily increasing the pressure in the spatial area during the relative movement, in particular only during the phase in which the counter-holder, especially away from the starting material, moves into the cutting plate.

[0023] Such a device can, for example, be designed by a pulsed pump which, during this entry movement, generates the necessary pressure to pump the lubricant through the cutting gap into the working zone.

[0024] It is particularly preferred in the invention that at least part of the pressure required for the supply, or the required pressure completely or at least predominantly, is generated by moving the counterholder into a space containing / carrying the lubricant, in particular the aforementioned space, which is arranged on the side of the counterholder facing away from the starting material, and especially directly behind it. Preferably, the counterholder can thus form a piston that is movable within this space and thereby changes the volume of the space.

[0025] For example, the lubricant in this space may initially be under a first pressure level, in particular one that is not yet sufficient to convey the lubricant into the effective zone, whereby the onset of movement of the counterholder causes it to move in the direction of the space, in particular in a direction in which the volume of the space is reduced, and thereby generates a pressure increase of the lubricant through its compression in the space for the duration of its movement towards the space, so that the pressure level is raised, in particular to a level which is sufficient to convey lubricant, in particular in sufficient quantity, through the cutting gap into the effective zone.

[0026] Preferably, the pressure is generated during and / or by displacing the lubricant from the room area towards a lubricant reservoir against the effect of the line resistance in at least one line formed between the lubricant reservoir and the room area, wherein the room area is supplied with lubricant from the lubricant reservoir.

[0027] While the pressure increase is caused by the compression of the lubricant, this does not inhibit the movement of the counterholder, but only increases the pressure, since the further movement of the counterholder is still possible due to the displacement of the lubricant towards the lubricant reservoir.

[0028] The supply of lubricant to the room area can be done, for example, with a pump or by designing the lubricant reservoir as a pressure accumulator, the pressurization of which supplies lubricant to the room area.

[0029] By displacing the lubricant towards a lubricant reservoir, it can be taken into account that in typical design configurations the volume of lubricant displaced in the spatial area by the movement of the counter-holder is larger than the volume required in the effective zone.

[0030] Thus, by moving the counter-holder in the direction into the space area, in particular in a direction reducing the volume of the space area, a part, in particular a predominant part, of the displaced lubricant volume is displaced towards the lubricant reservoir and another part, in particular a smaller part of the lubricant, is displaced into the effective zone.

[0031] The invention preferably provides that the transfer of the lubricant from the room area towards the lubricant reservoir takes place through at least one throttle valve, in particular by means of which the level of the generated pressure can be adjusted. Such a throttle valve is preferably arranged in at least one line that runs between the lubricant reservoir and the room area and connects the two.

[0032] The invention preferably provides that the throttle valve only becomes effective, preferably is solely flowed through, when lubricant is displaced from the surrounding area towards the lubricant reservoir, i.e., for the purpose of the required pressure build-up, but preferably the throttle valve does not become effective, in particular is bypassed, when lubricant is conveyed from the lubricant reservoir towards the surrounding area. For this purpose, for example, a combination of a throttle valve and a check valve connected in parallel can be used.

[0033] Preferably, the invention provides that the lubricant is circulated between the lubricant reservoir and the room area by means of at least one pump.

[0034] In such a design, it can preferably be provided that the lubricant is guided through the cutting plate by means of at least one line, in particular by means of the supply line and return line of the circuit.

[0035] A device for conveying the lubricant through the cutting gap to the effective zone is preferably formed at least partially in a tool lower part, which includes the cutting plate and the counterholder, as well as the space filled with lubricant or at least fillable with lubricant, into which the counterholder is moved, in particular which is in circulatory connection with the lubricant reservoir.

[0036] The invention may further preferably provide that, during the counter-holder movement, the lubricant is displaced into the lubricant reservoir by a throttle valve in the return line between the room and the lubricant reservoir, wherein a check valve arranged in the supply line closes due to the pressure or flow generated by the counter-holder in the lubricant.

[0037] This ensures that the lubricant is not pushed back towards the pump with the full cross-section of the pipe during the counter-holding movement into the room area, but that the lubricant flow occurs at least also, or solely, via the throttle valve in the return line.

[0038] It can also be provided that, during the counter-holding movement into the room area, the lubricant is also shifted into the lubricant reservoir by a throttle valve in the supply line between the room area and the pump, which is parallel to the closing / closed check valve in the supply line.

[0039] This ensures that a return flow of lubricant to the lubricant reservoir with the required pressure generation can also be generated in the supply line, but the lubricant can flow to the room area through the open check valve in the supply line, bypassing the throttle valve, e.g. caused by the pump or in the return stroke of the counterholder from the room area.

[0040] During the return stroke of the counterholder away from the room area towards the starting position, in particular causing an increase in the volume of the room area, lubricant can flow from the lubricant reservoir into the room area through the at least one open check valve, in particular wherein the return stroke is effected by pressure bolts acting on the counterholder that extend through the room area.

[0041] The return stroke can therefore be carried out in the usual way in a fine blanking press. Alternatively, the return stroke can be performed or at least assisted by the pressurized lubricant.

[0042] In a preferred further development, it may be provided that wear on the punch is also reduced on the punch side, especially in the areas of the punch which contact the rest of the starting material during a stroke.

[0043] For this purpose, it is preferably provided that the fine blanking press includes a device with which lubricant can be guided into the gap between the punch guide plate and the punch, and in particular through this gap in the direction of the starting material.

[0044] Preferably, the gap between the punch and the punch guide plate is lubricated, particularly solely by the action of gravity on the lubricant, which is stored in a lubricant reservoir surrounding the part of the punch protruding from the punch guide plate, especially on the side of the punch guide plate facing away from the starting material / cutting plate. Preferably, the reservoir is open to the atmospheric environment, particularly so that there is no driving pressure potential acting on the lubricant.

[0045] The lubricant reservoir is preferably arranged in a frame-like / ring-shaped configuration around the piston, with the radially outward-facing outer surface of the piston forming a wall of the reservoir that moves with the stroke. This causes lubricant to be carried into the aforementioned gap by gravity as well. Through this gap, the lubricant reaches the radial outer surface of the piston, close to its axial end face, where it makes contact with the workpiece material and reduces friction.

[0046] The invention can then provide that lubricant is replenished into the reservoir, e.g. depending on consumption or continuously.

[0047] Exemplary embodiments of the invention are explained with reference to the following figures.

[0048] Figure 1This shows a fine blanking press or its tool in the starting position, in which the starting material 3 is already clamped between the units consisting of punch guide plate 5 and cutting plate 6 as well as punch 4 and counter holder 7, but no relative movement has yet taken place between these respective units 5 / 6 and 4 / 7 for the purpose of cutting, in particular for the purpose of separating a workpiece 3a from the starting material 3 or forming a workpiece 3a.

[0049] Figure 2 shows the same arrangement after a relative movement of the units.

[0050] The figures show the essential part of a fine blanking press for the invention, without depicting the drive units. The figures depict a tool 1, 2, which is divided into an upper tool part 1 and a lower tool part 2.

[0051] A strip-shaped starting material 3, e.g. a steel strip, is passed between these two tool parts 1, 2, from which workpieces 3a are cut.

[0052] For the cutting process, in the usual and well-known manner for fineblanking presses, the starting material 3 is clamped between the punch guide plate 5 and the cutting plate 6. These two elements clamp, for example, the portion of the starting material that remains in the starting material during the cutting process. The starting material is also clamped between the punch 4 and the counter-holder 7. The portion clamped by these elements 4 and 7 is, for example, the portion that is cut out of the starting material 3 during the cutting process or displaced relative to it, forming the workpiece 3a.

[0053] The cutting process itself is generated by moving the unit consisting of punch 4 and counter-holder 7 relative to the unit consisting of punch guide plate 5 and cutting plate 6, according to Figure 2 In this version, the movement is downwards, with all units being clamped in place.

[0054] Along the cutting gap 6a, which is formed between the cutting plate 6 and the counter support 7 which moves downwards therein, the workpiece 3a is displaced out of the plane of the starting material 3 and, if the movement of the counter support 7 is longer than the thickness of the starting material 3, is cut out of it, otherwise only formed.

[0055] The invention provides that, in this embodiment, a space 13a filled with lubricant 13 is provided beneath the counterholder 7. When the clamped unit consisting of the punch 4 and counterholder 7 moves away from the plane of the starting material 3, the counterholder 7 moves into this space 13a and compresses the lubricant 13 there. The resulting pressure increase causes the lubricant 13 to be at least partially displaced through the cutting gap 6a into the effective zone 18, contrary to the movement of the counterholder 7. In this way, the lubricant 13 can be applied precisely in the effective zone 18, because the effective zone 18 is effectively formed by the upper end of the cutting gap 6a, particularly on the side of the cutting plate 6 and / or by its surface facing the cutting gap. The workpiece 3a comes into increasing contact with this area of ​​the cutting plate 6 during the movement.

[0056] The displacement of the lubricant 13 from the space 13a through the cutting gap 6a can be facilitated by the formation of channels in the cutting gap 6a through which the lubricant 13 can be conveyed by pressure. Such channels are preferably formed by grooves / grooves in the surface of the counter-holder 7, which point into the cutting gap 6a, and in particular, are parallel to the direction of movement. These grooves / grooves thus also open into the space 13a.

[0057] The embodiment shown here is such that a pump 16 pumps the lubricant 13 from a lubricant reservoir 17 into the chamber 13a via the supply line 14, and from there back into the lubricant reservoir 17 via the return line 15. Thus, a lubricant circuit exists, in particular whereby the lubricant 13 is pumped in a circle independently of any stroke movement of the fine blanking press.

[0058] The movement of the counterholder 7 can then also displace lubricant 13 from the space 13a back into the lubricant reservoir 17 when the counterholder 7 moves into the space 13a. Furthermore, during the return movement out of the space 13a, the lubricant 13 can be drawn from the lubricant reservoir 17, in particular where the filling of the space 13a with the lubricant 13 is also supported by the pump 16.

[0059] In order to achieve a sufficiently high pressure required for the displacement of the lubricant 13 into the effective zone 18, it is provided that the displacement of the lubricant 13 from the space area 13a towards the lubricant reservoir 17 takes place in both the supply line 14 and the return line 15 through a preferably adjustable throttle valve 11, 12.

[0060] In this arrangement, a check valve is connected in parallel to each throttle valve. During the stroke of the counterholder 7 into space 13a, the check valve closes, ensuring that the lubricant 13 can only flow through the throttle valves 11 and 12. During the return stroke of the counterholder 7, i.e., out of space 13a, particularly for the purpose of ejecting the workpiece 3a, the check valves open, allowing the lubricant to flow back into space 13a unaffected by the throttle valves 11 and 12. The throttle valves thus only restrict the flow of lubricant 13 during the downward stroke of the counterholder 7, and not during the upward return stroke.

[0061] The return stroke can be achieved by exerting a return stroke force on the counterholder 7 via the pressure bolts 8 by means of a drive (not shown), which pushes the counterholder 7 out of the space 13a. This increases the volume of the space 13a again and lubricant 13 is drawn into it, a process further supported by the action of the pump 16.

[0062] The space area 13a is here bounded above by the underside of the counter-holder 7, laterally by the wall of the cutting plate 6, which on its side defines the cutting gap 6a and downwards by a plate arranged in the lower part of the tool 2, through which the pressure bolts 8, in particular sealed with seals 10, are passed.

[0063] The cutting plate 6 can be sealed, particularly on its underside, against the aforementioned plate with a seal 9 in order to prevent the lubricant 13 from getting between the cutting plate 6 and the aforementioned plate due to the pressure built up.

[0064] The device of the fine blanking press for supplying lubricant 13 through the cutting gap 6a into the working zone 18 is here partially formed in the lower part of the tool 2, namely through the conduit areas in the cutting plate 6 and the space area 13a, and partially externally from this by pump and lubricant reservoir 17 and, if necessary, the throttle valves 11 and check valves.

[0065] Compared to the prior art, the invention ensures that the lubricant 13 is applied with each stroke of the counter-holder 7, in this case downwards, only to the effective zone 18, i.e., precisely to the area where the lubricant is needed. This prevents excess lubricant from being applied.

[0066] The Figure 3 shows a further embodiment of the invention, again as in Figure 2 after the relative motion of the units, which includes all characteristics, as it relates to the Figure 1 and 2 It is described, but further development includes the provision of lubricant supply to the piston 4.

[0067] To achieve this, a lubricant reservoir 21 is arranged above the punch guide plate 5, and in particular also above a punch guide pressure plate 19 which rests on the punch guide plate 5, which surrounds the punch 4 in a frame-like / ring-like manner, in particular surrounding its part protruding upwards from the punch guide plate 5 / punch guide pressure plate 19, and in particular radially around the outside of the punch 4.

[0068] This means that the radially outward-facing wall of the piston 4 is a movable wall section which radially inwardly defines the aforementioned reservoir 21 and is moistened by the lubricant 13. Radially outwardly, the reservoir 21 can be limited by a limiting ring 20. Alternatively, the reservoir can also be arranged as an annular / frame-shaped recess at the top of the piston guide plate 5 or the piston guide pressure plate 20.

[0069] The reservoir 21 is preferably open to the atmosphere, so that lubricant 13 is preferably guided into the gap 5a between the piston 4 and the piston guide plate 5 only by gravity and / or by the movement of the piston 4 itself, and in particular through this gap 5a down to the surface of the starting material. In this way, the lubricant 13 can reach the areas where the piston 4 and the remaining portion of the starting material 3 are in contact, thereby reducing friction and wear of the piston 4.

[0070] The Figure 4Figure 1 shows an embodiment for forming grooves / slots 7a, 7b, 7c in the surface of the counterholder 7, to supply the lubricant 13 from the area 13a to the working zone. In this embodiment, it can be seen that the set of all grooves / slots comprises several groups G1, G2, G3, with the grooves / slots in each group G1, G2, G3 extending in the stroke direction or the direction of the relative movement. In each group, the grooves / slots 7a extend over a portion of the total length of the counterholder as viewed in the stroke direction. The grooves 7a of adjacent groups are connected by a circumferentially extending groove / slot 7b. The grooves 7a of the last group G3 located towards the workpiece 3a open into a circumferential groove 7c, which is arranged at the end of the counterholder 7 that points axially towards the workpiece or the starting material and is open in that direction.This allows the lubricant supplied through the grooves 7a, 7b, 7c to spread across the surface of the starting material along the cutting gap.

Claims

1. A method for fine blanking workpieces (3a) from a starting material (3) in a fine blanking press, in which the starting material (3) is clamped between a punch guide plate (5) and a cutting plate (6) as well as between a punch (4) guided in the punch guide plate (5) and a counterholder (7) guided in the cutting plate (6), and the unit comprising the punch (4) and the counterholder (7) is moved relative to the unit comprising the punch guide plate (5) and the cutting plate (6), whereby the workpiece (3a) is displaced relative to the starting material (3) along the cutting gap (6a) formed between the cutting plate (6) and the counterholder (7), in particular is separated from the starting material (3), wherein lubricant (13) is applied to the active zone (18) between the cutting plate (6) and the workpiece (3a), characterized in thatthe lubricant (13) is fed to the effective zone (18) through the cutting gap (6a) between the cutting plate (6) and the counterholder (7).

2. Method according to claim 2, characterized in that the lubricant (13) is supplied through grooves or slots (7a), preferably grooves or slots (7a) extending at least partially in the direction of the relative movement, which are arranged in the surface of the cutting plate (6) facing the opposite surface of the counterholder (7) and / or are arranged in the surface of the counterholder (7) facing the opposite surface of the cutting plate (6).

3. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in thatthe lubricant (13) is conveyed through the cutting gap (6a) by pressurizing the lubricant (13), for which purpose a space area (13a) filled with lubricant (13) and pressurizable and pressurizable during the cutting process is arranged in the fine blanking press, in particular in the lower tool part (2), which comprises the cutting plate (6) and the counter-holder (7) movably mounted therein, which space area (13a) is connected to the active zone (18) via the cutting gap (6a), in particular via the grooves / channels preferably extending therein.

4. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least part of the pressure required for the supply is generated by the movement of the counter-holder (7) into a space area (13a) guiding the lubricant (13), which is arranged on the side of the counter-holder (7) facing away from the starting material.

5. Method according to claim 4, characterized in thatthe pressure is generated during and / or by displacement of the lubricant (13) from the spatial region (13a) in the direction of a lubricant reservoir (17) against the effect of the line resistance in at least one line (14, 15) formed between the lubricant reservoir (17) and the spatial region (13a), wherein the spatial region (13a) is supplied with lubricant (13) from the lubricant reservoir (17).

6. Method according to claim 5, characterized in that the displacement of the lubricant (13) from the spatial region (13a) in the direction of the lubricant reservoir (17) takes place through at least one throttle valve (11, 12), in particular by means of which the level of the pressure generated can be adjusted.

7. Method according to one of the preceding claims 5 or 6, characterized in that the lubricant (13) is circulated between the lubricant reservoir (17) and the spatial area (13a) by means of at least one pump (16).

8. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the lubricant (13) is passed through the cutting plate (6) by means of the at least one line (14, 15), in particular by means of the feed line (14) and return line (15) of the circuit.

9. Method according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that the lubricant (13) is displaced into the space area (13a) through a throttle valve (12) in the return line (15) between the space area (13a) and the lubricant reservoir (17) into the lubricant reservoir (17) during the counter-holder movement, wherein a check valve arranged in the feed line (14) closes due to the pressure generated in the lubricant (13) by the counter-holder (7).

10. Method according to one of the preceding claims 7 to 9, characterized in thatthe lubricant (13) is also displaced into the space area (13a) during the counter-holder movement through a throttle valve (11) in the feed line (14) between the space area (13a) and the pump (16) into the lubricant reservoir (17), which is located parallel to the closing / closed check valve in the feed line (14).

11. Method according to one of the preceding claims 7 to 10, characterized in that in the return stroke of the counter-holder (7) away from the spatial region (13a) in the direction of the starting position, lubricant (13) flows through the at least one open check valve from the lubricant reservoir (17) into the spatial region (13a), in particular wherein the return stroke is carried out by pressure bolts (8) acting on the counter-holder (7) and extending through the spatial region (13a).

12. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in thata gap (5a) between the punch (4) and the punch guide plate (5) is acted upon by lubricant (13), in particular only by the effect of gravity on the lubricant (13), which is stored in a lubricant reservoir (21) which surrounds the part of the punch (4) protruding from the punch guide plate (5), in particular on the side of the punch guide plate (5) facing away from the starting material (3) / the cutting plate (6), in particular which is open to the atmospheric environment.

13. Fine blanking press for fine blanking workpieces (3a) from a starting material (3), with which a starting material (3) can be clamped between a punch guide plate (5) and a cutting plate (6) as well as between a punch (4) guided in the punch guide plate (5) and a counterholder (7) guided in the cutting plate (6), and the unit comprising the punch (4) and the counterholder (7) can be moved relative to the unit comprising the punch guide plate (5) and the cutting plate (6), whereby the workpiece (3a) can be displaced relative to the starting material (3) along the cutting gap (6a) formed between the cutting plate (6) and the counterholder (7), in particular can be separated from the starting material (3), wherein lubricant (13) can be applied to the active zone (18) between the cutting plate (6) and the workpiece (3a), characterized in thatit comprises a device with which lubricant (13) can be fed to the active zone (18) through the cutting gap (6a) between the cutting plate (6) and the counterholder (7).

14. Fine blanking press according to claim 13, characterized in that it comprises a device with which lubricant (13) can be guided into the gap (5a) present between the punch guide plate (5) and the punch (4), in particular can be guided through this gap (5a) in the direction of the starting material (3).

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