Metal Stamping 101
As part of the initiative to educate the public and educate the educators, I’m going to start posting some explanatory information about some of the main functions and operations in the tool & die, mold, machining and metal stamping industries. Here we start with the an easy to understand lesson about “metal stamping”, as written by Josh Riverside from www.jmtraders.com.
A Look at Sheet Metal Stamping
May 11, 2009
Sheet metal stamping is the system wherein metal sheets are used
for producing final products. When a metal sheet is inserted
into the die or the press, it is molded into the required shape
and size. Metal sheets of only a certain thickness can be
inserted into metal stamping machines. The maximum limit for
most metal stamping machines is ¼ inch. However, machines can be
designed to accommodate sheets of greater thickness also. Even
the kind of metal sheets that can be processed in metal stamping
are also specific. Only certain metals or alloys can be used
like aluminum, brass, steel (hot rolled or cold rolled),
galvanized steel, stainless steel, copper, zinc and titanium.
Before the metal sheet is inserted into the machine, the
customer provides the prototype or at least a diagram of the
final product. In case the customer doesn’t have a clear idea of
what the final product should look like, most metal stamping
producers also offer engineering services for designing the
products as well. Even some secondary services such as deburring
and plating are provided by the metal stamping companies after
the metal sheet is stamped.
There are three main components in sheet metal stamping — the
die, the punch and the binder/blank holder. The sheet is kept
between the blank holder and the die and the punch is driven
into the die wherein the sheet spreads over the die because of
the drawing and stretching. The blank holder provides the
restraining force that is required to control the sheet flow
into the die. This force prevents wrinkling and tearing of the
sheet as the quantity of material going into the machine can be
controlled. For some processes where the blank holder force is
too high for the material, draw beads are used to create the
restraining force.
Sheet metal stampings are also known as thin stampings. Sheet
metal stamping is used most primarily in the case-building
process. It is also the most important part as each of the
panels has to be stamped one by one. First the motherboard tray
is stamped, then one-side panels on the right and left from
bottom to top and back.
About the author:
Metal Stamping Info
provides detailed information about precision, custom, and sheet
metal stamping, as well as metal stamping machines and metal
stamping die. Metal Stamping Info is the sister site of Wire EDM Web.
Good idea, Joe. This is needed to enlighten readers about our industry.
The article title should have been “Draw Die Metal Stamping 101″ because that is the only type of die described, although the term ‘draw die’ is not mentioned.
It’s okay as far as it goes, but leads the uninformed reader to conclude this is the complete range of die types. Perhaps future pieces will introduce the many other die types, including: redraw, deep draw, blank, trim, pierce, form, flange, restrike, scarf, burnish, shave, notch, extrude, coin, emboss, stretch form, cam, stake, progressive, transfer, hydroform, perforation, four slide, and fineblanking dies. There are also many combination dies, such as form & flange, trim & pierce, etc.
Good point Gary. The depth of information is so vast most will need it in bite-size pieces. If you happen to come across any information with regards to the restrike, scarf, notch, extrusion dies, etc please post and I will turn your comment into a regular post. Regards, Joe