The first punch, also called the upper punch or the preliminary punch, is a mold required for the initial forming of the screw head. It is very important for the stability of the quality and the use value of the finished product during the screw manufacturing process. The first punch is commonly used on a two-stroke single-station automatic machine or a multi-station automatic machine to form a set of conical metal in a die and to pre-fill it before the head of the workpiece is formed. 
Material: During operation, the punches are subjected to high power loads. Therefore, punches for cold heading processes can be in full carbide or carbide tipped version. In most cases, it is made of a tungsten carbide core with a high-strength steel case, which has certain mechanical properties that contribute to an increase in resistance, with no coating on the surface. Full Carbide First Punch: 
Carbide-Tipped First Punch: 
Material for Core of First Punch:
Material for Casing of First Punch:
The second punch for a cold heading machine is a critical tool used for the final shaping and forming of metal fasteners, such as bolts, screws, and rivets. It is designed to work in tandem with the first punch and die to achieve a desired end product. 
Punches are widely used in the marking, stamping and extrusion of screw head slots, screws, self-tapping threads and other materials in the hardware industry. This slot is used to transmit torque and head efficiently. There are now many types of slots used and besides the traditional types like cross PH/PZ/or straight (slot) other types are becoming more and more popular: three-wing, four-wing, hex socket and many others. 
Material: The second punch is typically made from high-speed steel (HSS), two grades: SKH9 and M42. The choice of material will depend on the specific application and the requirements for durability, toughness, and wear resistance. SKH9 is used for iron steel, carbon steel or other common steels. M42 is used for stainless steel. Surface Treatment: To improve the wear resistance and extend the lifespan of the second punch, it may be treated with surface coatings such as TiN with black or gold, TiAlN. These coatings help to reduce friction and wear, and can also enhance the performance and quality of the finished product. 
When ordering second punches please specify the following:
- Workpiece material (carbon or stainless steel, or others.)
- Type of fastener’s head, standardized (JIS, JCIS, ANSI, DIN, ISO, etc.)
- The outer diameter and length of the punch D × L.
- Coating of punch working part (TiN gold or black, No coating…)
Characteristics and properties of punch coatings:
Benefit
- High precision: After standardized production, cold heading punches are high precision, enable precise shaping of metal for consistent quality products.
- Longer lifespan: High-quality cold heading punches, first punch made of tungsten carbide, second punch made of HSS, both have excellent wear resistance, resulting in longer die life and reduced downtime for replacement.
- Increased productivity: The use of durable and precise cold heading punches can improve production efficiency, reducing scrap and material waste, and increasing yield.
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