Patent ID: 7024978

Claim:
A punch and die assembly, comprising: a first die including a first die aperture for receiving a punch; a second die including a second die aperture for receiving the punch; a first housing including a smooth bore first die receiving passage receiving at least a portion of the first die; a second housing including a smooth second die passage receiving at least a portion of the second die and being configured to receive at least a portion of the first die, the second die receiving passage being configured to permit at least one of the first die and the second die to rotate therein, thereby permitting the first die aperture and the second die aperture to be optimally aligned with respect to each other and with respect to the punch whereby the punch may freely pass through the first die aperture and the second die aperture with minimal friction from the walls of the first die aperture and of the second die aperture; and a punch assembly including a punch, wherein the punch extends through the first die aperture and the second die aperture during a punching operation.