Punching a workpiece

A punching apparatus comprising:

• a punching tool configured to move during a punching stroke along a stroke axis (Z) toward a workpiece to be punched, wherein the punching tool is configured to move away from the punched workpiece during a return stroke, and wherein the punching tool comprises a first component and a second component configured to be coupled hydraulically for concurrent movement along the stroke axis (Z);
• and
• a punching drive for moving the first component along the stroke axis (Z),
• wherein the punching apparatus is configured to move the second component relative to the first component at a first transmission ratio during the punching stroke,
• wherein the punching apparatus is configured to move the second component relative to the first component at a second transmission ratio different than the first transmission ratio in response to a reaction force (F) of the workpiece exceeding a threshold value of the punching drive during the punching stroke, and
• wherein the punching apparatus is configured to maintain a relative position (ΔP′) of the first component with respect to the second component taken up after the workpiece has been punched through with a punching force greater than the threshold value along at least a portion of the return stroke of the punching tool along the stroke axis (Z).