Striking unit and method for material processing by the use of high kinetic energy

A striking unit for processing a material using kinetic energy, comprising:

• a piston that transfers kinetic energy to a blank/tool to be processed;
• a drive chamber arranged to have a system pressure that exerts a force to drive the piston;
• a second chamber having the system pressure during an entire striking progress of the striking unit, from an acceleration of the piston to a return motion of the piston;
• a valve assembly that regulates hydraulic flow to the drive chamber, wherein the valve assembly includes a pressure controlled shut-off valve;
• and
• a pilot valve directly or indirectly connected to a sensor to control a first stroke by the piston so that the force on the piston is reduced or disconnected in order to prevent an additional subsequent stroke by the piston, and wherein the pilot valve controls activation and inactivation of the pressure controlled shut-off valve during the entire striking progress, from the acceleration of the piston to the return motion of the piston.