Electromagnetic bounce back braking for punch press and punch press process

A method of punching a via or through hole in a polymer-metal laminate workpiece in a punch press, comprising the step of:

• providing the punch press having a punch, a driver coil for driving said through said polymer-metal laminate workpiece, return means in said punch press for stopping travel of said punch and mechanically returning said punch to a starting position, and a damping material for dissipating energy from said punch during the mechanical return of said punch;
• applying a punching pulse electrical current through said driver coil to electromagnetically drive said punch downward to and through said workpiece;
• colliding said punch with said return means in said punch press to stop and return said punch on an upward return stroke;
• applying a braking pulse electrical current through said driver coil after the start of said punching pulse electrical current for a time and magnitude sufficient to electromagnetically brake said punch,resulting in a first reduction of bounceback of said punch;
• and
• absorbing energy from said punch by said damping material, resulting in a second reduction of bounceback of said punch, wherein the step of providing the punch press comprises providing the punch press such that punch press further comprises a copper disk and a polymeric insulator that insulates said copper disk from said driver coil, such that the driver coil magnetizes the copper disk to drive the punch, and such that the polymeric insulator is in contact with both the driver coil and the damping material.