Maintenance cost of a software design: A value-based approach

A pair of press tools, such as punches, are mounted on a tool support for axial reciprocation between extended and retracted positions with respect to the support. The tool support may be defined by a press slide, bed or component part of a tooling package mountable thereon and is provided with a hydraulic fluid receiving cylinder for each of the tools. Each tool is interconnected with a piston received in the corresponding cylinder and the cylinders are in flow communication with one another. Accordingly, if one of the tools engages a workpiece before the other during operation of the press, the one tool is displaced in the direction of retraction causing the other tool to be displaced in the direction of extension until both tools engage the workpiece, thus to avoid eccentric loading of the press slide and frame. Both tools have a neutral position with respect to their extended and retracted positions and, upon movement of the press slide away from the work, a biasing arrangement returns the extended one of the tools to its neutral position and the displacement of the corresponding piston causes the retracted tool to be returned to its neutral position.