The invention discloses a progressive punching method. The progressive punching method comprises a hydraulic pump and at least two forming devices, and each forming device comprises a forming mold anda hydraulic cylinder; each forming mold comprises a fixed plate and a movable plate which are arranged at intervals, the fixed plate is provided with a mold cavity, the movable plate is provided witha mold core, the hydraulic cylinder is in transmission connection with the mold core, and the hydraulic cylinders of all the forming devices are connected to the hydraulic pump in parallel; in a samemold, the maximum distance between the movable plate and the fixed plate is called an outer side limit position of the movable plate, the position where the movable plate is located is called a critical position when the mold core just enters the mold cavity, and the time interval of the movable plate moving from the outer side limit position to the critical position after the hydraulic pump driving is called as a virtual position travel time; and at least two forming devices are configured with different virtual position travel times. The punching machine is provided with a reasonable punching method, the loading of driving parts is reduced, the punching machine can simultaneously complete multiple punching holes, and the punching effect is improved.