Peddinghaus FAB-MASTER 8
Key Specifications
Punching Force
Sheet/Section Size Capacity
Number of Tool Stations
Repositioning Speed
Punching Speed
Control System
Overview
The Peddinghaus FAB-MASTER 8 is a CNC hydraulic punch press designed specifically for structural steel fabrication, delivering high-speed hole punching, notching, and marking operations on angles, channels, flat bar, and plate material. Unlike turret punch presses optimized for sheet metal, the FAB-MASTER 8 is purpose-built for the structural steel fabrication environment — processing the sections typically found in construction, industrial equipment, and infrastructure manufacturing. It represents Peddinghaus's decades of expertise in structural steel processing machinery, with installations in fabrication shops across North America, Europe, and Australia.
The FAB-MASTER 8 delivers up to 80 tons of punching force, enabling clean through-holes in structural steel sections up to 25 mm thick without the heat-affected zones, slag, or secondary cleaning required by plasma or flame cutting processes. Its CNC control integrates directly with structural steel design software including Tekla Structures, Advance Steel, and SDS/2, enabling automatic programming from detailing models without manual CNC input. Material positioning uses servo-driven conveyors for accurate longitudinal positioning, while the machine's transverse positioning axis handles width-wise hole placement across the section.
The system accommodates multiple tooling stations, allowing punching of round holes, slotted holes, square holes, and custom shapes without tool changeover interrupting production. An integrated scribing unit marks piece marks, layout lines, and weld positions directly on the material, eliminating a separate manual marking operation. The FAB-MASTER 8's throughput capability — processing structural sections at high linear speeds — makes it the productivity backbone of steel fabrication shops handling large project volumes.
Peddinghaus's FAB-MASTER series is the most widely installed structural angle and flat bar punching line in the North American structural steel fabrication industry. Its reliability, integration with structural detailing software, and direct Peddinghaus service and support network make it the benchmark machine for fabricators moving from manual layout and drilling to fully automated structural section processing.
Full Specifications
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Punching Force | 80 tons (711 kN) |
| Sheet/Section Size Capacity | Angles up to 250x250x25mm, flat bar up to 600x25mm, channels, plates |
| Number Of Tool Stations | 8 punching stations |
| Repositioning Speed | Up to 40,000 mm/min (servo feed) |
| Punching Speed | Up to 60 strokes/min |
| Control System | Peddinghaus FPCONTROL CNC |
| Throat Depth | 250 mm (angle leg capacity) |
| Max Material Thickness | 25 mm (mild steel) |
| CAD/CAM Integration | Tekla Structures, Advance Steel, SDS/2 |
| Optional Units | Scribing, center punch, marking |
| Machine Weight | Approx. 15,000 kg |
Specifications sourced from peddinghaus.com — verified 2026-03-28
Strengths & Limitations
Strengths
- Direct integration with Tekla Structures, Advance Steel, and SDS/2 eliminates manual programming in structural steel workflows
- Clean punched holes require no secondary deburring or cleaning — unlike plasma or flame cut holes
- 8 punching stations enable round, slotted, and custom hole shapes without tool changeover downtime
- Integrated scribing and marking eliminates a separate layout operation, reducing material handling steps
- Servo-driven feed system provides precise, repeatable positioning across full material length at high speed
Limitations
- Specialized for structural sections — not applicable to general sheet metal fabrication or large flat plate processing
- High capital cost requires significant structural steel volume to achieve acceptable ROI payback period
- Material thickness limited to approximately 25 mm — heavier structural sections may require drilling or plasma cutting
Best For
Frequently Asked Questions
01
The FAB-MASTER 8 processes structural angles (up to 250x250x25 mm leg size), flat bar (up to 600 mm wide x 25 mm thick), channels, T-sections, and flat plate. It is not designed for wide-flange beams — for W-shapes and H-beams, Peddinghaus offers the FPD beam drill lines or FPB plasma cutting systems.
02
The Peddinghaus FPCONTROL CNC system imports NC data files exported from Tekla Structures, Advance Steel, and SDS/2. The fabricator's detailer exports hole lists and section data as NC files; the FAB-MASTER 8 reads these files and processes all pieces automatically. No manual CNC programming is required for standard structural hole patterns.
03
Punching is significantly faster than drilling for holes in mild steel up to approximately 20–25 mm thick. A punched hole takes a fraction of a second versus 5–30 seconds per drilled hole depending on diameter and material. Punching also produces no chips or coolant, simplifying material handling and cleanup. The limitation is that punching requires hole diameter to equal or exceed material thickness, and maximum thickness is limited by the machine's punching force capacity.
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