Perforation system and method

A perforation system for perforating a flexible work piece comprising:

• a punch tool having a block that has a bottom surface that faces toward the flexible work piece and a punch head that extends from the bottom surface of the block, the punch head defining a vertical axis and having a first shape;
• a housing that defines a housing cavity that receives the punch tool such that the block contacts the housing in the housing cavity and is moveable with respect to the housing along the vertical axis, wherein the housing does not move along the vertical axis;
• a guide member that is receivable in the housing cavity, wherein the punch head is received in the guide member;
• a die positioned along the vertical axis and having an ejection port defined by a second shape;
• and
• a drive mechanism coupled to the punch tool and that translates the block downwardly along the vertical axis so that the bottom surface of the block contacts the guide member and the guide member contacts the flexible work piece and translates the punch head downwardly along the vertical axis to perforate the flexible work piece, wherein the first shape overlaps the second shape to provide for punch-to-die contact which results in a clean cut along a perimeter of the second shape.