Punching Tools

A punching tool for a punching machine for punching a plate-shaped workpiece, the punching tool comprising

• an upper tool part and a lower tool part that when mounted in a punching machine are arranged to move relative to each other in a punching direction, wherein:
• the upper tool part comprises an upper cutting edge and the lower tool part comprises a lower cutting edge having a shape complementary to the upper cutting edge and being arranged opposite thereto so that a material is cut off from the workpiece by the cutting edges upon a punching stoke;
• the upper cutting edge and the lower cutting edge are arranged at a varying distance (A) apart from each other in the punching direction when the punching tool is mounted in the punching machine in a predetermined positon of the upper tool part and the lower tool part;
• and wherein
• the upper cutting edge and/or the lower cutting edge are/is partitioned into at least two portions by at least one transition region, wherein the transition region comprises relative to the respectively adjacent portions of the cutting edge in the punching direction between adjacent portions a discontinuity being adapted such that the material cut off from the workpiece is separated into two or more individual parts in one punching stroke.