Metal stamping is a complex cold forming process of permanently altering the shape or design of a flat metal sheet by using brute force or speed. Many companies such as aerospace and automotive rely on metal stamping services to function. Metal stamping is an essential function in the manufacturing industry. This is because of a constant need for large, readymade, and cost-effective complex parts for the manufacturing industry. So how does metal stamping work?
How Metal Stamping Works
Metal stamping is also referred to as metal pressing. Before the stamping process starts, professionals design the tooling via CAD/CAM technology. The professional design must be accurate to avoid wastage and ensure good part quality. A single 3D model tool can hold hundreds of parts. Each punch or bend must be done well to get the desired metal design.
The process involves placing a flat sheet of metal in a blank or coil form into a stamping press. The sheet of metal is turned into the desired design using any below metal pressing techniques.
Embossing
Embossing is one of the types of metal stamping services that involves forming a raised or sunken design in a sheet of metal. This is done by pressing the metal sheet against the die with the desired design or using a roller die.
Flanging
Flanging involves introducing a flare or flange onto a piece of metal through a press machine or the flanging machine.
Punching
Punching uses a die to cut the piece of metal into specific forms. It removes a scrap piece of metal as the punch enters the metal, leaving a hole in the piece of metal.
Blanking
This also uses a die to cut the piece of metal. But in this case, the piece of metal is removed from the primary material and the metal removed becomes the desired design.
Bending
Just as the name suggests, this technique involves bending the metal sheet to the desired shaped profiles. Bending happens from a particular point on the metal sheet called an axis. The process stresses the metal above the yield point but just below its tensile strength to prevent the metal piece from breaking during bending. This results in getting your desired shape without damaging the workpiece.
Coining
Coining occurs when rather than punch a hole in the metal piece. The metal press will press the metal into a specific shape, just like a coin. This process happens when the piece of metal is placed between a die and the press. The press ensures deep penetration that relieves the internal stresses of the metal sheet to avoid the spring back effect when pressing.
Conclusion
Metal stamping services allow other industries to function by providing already made metal designs.
The advantage of these services is that it is fast as it doesn’t have to wait for the metal to cool off first for the next step to happen. There is also very little need for secondary operations as the press machine does the work in one step.