Sheet Metal Stamping Dies & Processes

Metal stamping is a type of manufacturing that uses cold-forming process to create metal parts from sheet metal with distinct shapes. Parts can be cut from sheet metal using precision tooling and pressure, these methods can also create cutouts, or make marks or add texture to metal. Both 2D and 3D parts can be created through metal stamping.

Computer-aided design (CAD) software is often used to create the stamping dies used to cut and shape sheet metal parts. The software creates very accurate and clear designs which are then given to diemakers to turn into stamping dies. Stamping dies are placed into presses, which sheet metal is them put through to manufacture the parts.

There are several metal stamping processes used to create metal parts, including punching, blanking, embossing, coining, bending, and flanging. Punching uses a punch press to form holds in a workpiece, pushing the punch tool through the sheet metal. Punching is usually a cold-forming method, however can be used in some hot-forming processes. The process is typically low cost, and the speed is sufficiently quick to lower production cost, making it overall the most cost-effective method in metal stamping. Blanking is an intermediary process to enhance the productivity of other stamping and finishing processes. Blurring can reduce the change or burrs forming further down the manufacturing line. Embossing allows detailed patterns and designs to be printed onto metal pieces, whereas coining uses high pressure to force a workpiece into a die, this die subsequently makes the desired shape from the metal.

Bending involves creating 3D pieces from metal sheets. Prior to bending, its advisable to think about the metal’s plasticity, due to metals differing in the degree of bending it can tolerant without weakening or cracking. Lastly, flanging bends metal at a 90 degree angle, different to other bending methods, this method is only used on small tabs and sections of the workpiece as a whole. It can sometimes be used in custom dies used in other stamping processes to make the process more efficient and less costly.

Alongside these, there are many kinds of metal stamping techniques, such as progressive die stamping, deep drawn metal stamping, transfer die stamping, and multi-slide metal stampings. Which type to choose depends on what material you are using and what kind of design you have to be made. For example, deep drawing is a method best used on brass, copper, stainless steel, and nickel. The most commonly used is progressive die stamping, whereby a single die goes through one or several fabrication steps on a workpiece. If you have a design that needs multiple stamping operations, then this method is an economical choice, saving time and simple to use. If your design as a continuous bend such as coils, then multi-slide metal stamping might be the option for you, which is good for parts with bends or complex sections.

Metal stamping procedures can create parts for diverse industries, including aerospace, automotive, home appliances, and medical device components.

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