Metal stamping—also sometimes referred to as metal pressing—is a manufacturing process that employs specialized stamping dies to shape and cut parts and products from flat sheets of metal. It is used to produce a wide range of components for various industries and industrial applications. The following article provides an overview of the process, including the basic operating principles, equipment utilized, operations available, and typical industries served.
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An Overview of Metal Stamping
Metal stamping is a cold working process, meaning it is generally performed in room temperature conditions with room temperature materials. The stamping dies are installed in stamping presses, which provide the force necessary to form and cut the workpiece into the desired shape and size. While this process is suitable for both short and long production runs, it is generally used to produce large quantities of identical metal parts and products.
Types of Metal Stamping Presses
Stamping presses can be divided into three main classifications based on how they operate:
- Mechanical stamping presses. Mechanical stamping presses utilize a motor connected to a mechanical flywheel to power stamping operations. They generally offer pressing speeds between 20–1,500 strokes per minute and pressing capacities ranging between 20–6,000 tons. They are typically used for high-volume progressive and transfer stamping operations.
- Hydraulic stamping presses. Hydraulic stamping presses rely on pressurized hydraulic fluid to generate the pressing force. They feature adjustable stroke and speed capabilities. Pressing capacities range between 20–10,000 tons. They are typically employed for small-volume production runs involving complex parts and products.
- Mechanical servo stamping presses. Mechanical servo presses use high-capacity motors powered by a link-assisted or direct drive system. They are usually used to manufacture complex components in shorter periods than would be possible with mechanical or hydraulic machines.
Types of Metal Stamping Dies
Metal stamping dies can be categorized into two groups:
- Single-station dies include compound dies and combination dies. Compound stamping dies perform two or more operations within a single press (e.g., multiple cuts), while combination stamping dies perform two or more operations within a single press stroke (e.g., cutting and flanging).
- Multi-station dies include progressive dies and transfers dies, both of which involve the various stamping operations they perform occurring in sequence across a set of stations. Progressive stamping dies come in a series. Each tool is installed in a different station, where it performs a specific stamping operation (e.g., cutting, punching, bending, etc.). Transfer stamping dies are similar to progressive stamping dies. However, they used to process workpieces that are separated from the larger sheet metal early in the stamping process.
Types of Metal Stamping Processes
Metal stamping is an umbrella term that encompasses numerous processes, such as:
- This process involves cutting holes into a piece of sheet metal to produce the desired piece.
- This process involves cutting the desired component from the piece of sheet metal.
- This process involves forming bends or curves in the sheet metal. Coining is a type of bending technique that involves the punch penetrating the workpiece deeper to relieve internal stresses and form permanent bends or curves.
- This process involves creating flares or flanges on the workpiece.
- This process involves adding raised or recessed numbers, letters, and other designs on the workpiece.
Industries Served with Metal Stamping
Metal stamping is used to produce a variety of industrial, commercial, and consumer parts and products. Some of the industries that regularly employ the process for their manufacturing operations include:
- Aerospace
- Appliance
- Automotive
- Electronics
- Energy
- Manufacturing
- Medical Equipment
- Military
Contact the Metal Stamping Experts at US Metal Crafters Today
Metal stamping is a highly versatile manufacturing process. It can be used to produce a wide range of metal components depending on the equipment (presses and dies) employed and operations performed. If you’re looking for a metal stamping partner, turn the experts at US Metal Crafters. Our extensive manufacturing experience and state-of-the-art metalworking equipment allow us to accommodate virtually any metal stamping need.
To learn more about our metal stamping capabilities or partner with us on your next project, contact us or request a quote today.
When most people hear the word “stamping,” their first thought is either postage, or someone dipping a rubber stamp in ink to leave a mark on some kind of document. However, for manufacturers, stamping has a very different meaning, one that brings to mind heavy machinery that weighs thousands of pounds and can permanently reshape metal with sheer brute force.
In manufacturing, “stamping” usually refers to sheet metal stamping machinery and processes.
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What is sheet metal stamping? How does it work? Here are the basics of the process as well as how it can be used.
What is Sheet Metal Stamping?
The technical definition of metal stamping is that it’s a type of cold forming process that uses extreme force and/or speed to permanently alter the shape of a piece of metal. For sheet metal stamping, the work piece is sheet metal. However, metal stamping machines can be used for metal wires and other metal forms as well.
In some circles, this process is known as “pressing.”
How Do Metal Stamping Machines Work?
The basic operating theory of a metal stamping machine is very simple: you take a large tool and die, put it into a machine that can exert several tons of force very quickly, and use them to press metal objects into the shape you want.
There are several different processes that a sheet metal stamping machine can typically perform:
- Flattening Metal. One of the most basic operations of the stamping machine is to flatten a metal object. This can be done to either smooth out an object or render it thinner at one point for other purposes.
- Swaging Rounded Metal. This is similar to flattening in that it makes a work piece thinner, but this process is usually used for wires instead of sheet metal. Swaging wires makes one end narrower so it can fit into an opening more easily.
- Piercing Metal. Instead of simply flattening the metal, the tool and die from a sheet metal stamping machine can puncture all the way through a piece of metal. This creates openings that can be used to connect multiple work pieces.
- Coining Metal. Rather than punch a small hole in a piece of metal, the tool and die of the sheet metal stamping machine can be used to press the sheet metal into a specific shape (such as a coin).
Because sheet metal stamping machines work on cold pieces of metal that haven’t been rendered malleable, they must rely on extreme force to get the job done—which is why these machines often have very powerful motors. For example, the Rouselle Straight Side Press stamping machine that Marlin Steel uses can exert up to 80 tons of force.
What Are the Benefits of Sheet Metal Stamping?
The advantage of this type of cold forming process is that there’s very little need for secondary operations or to wait for the work piece to cool off.
It also helps to reduce production waste by reshaping metal instead of cutting pieces away—especially when you use piercing operations. Normally, to cut a hole in sheet metal, you have to cut away a piece of that metal, but piercing with a metal stamping machine merely moves the metal out of the way to create the hole without creating excess metal scrap.
Are you curious about how you can use sheet metal stamping for your own custom metal forming needs? Contact Marlin Steel to learn more.
The company is the world’s best metal stamping press machine supplier. We are your one-stop shop for all needs. Our staff are highly-specialized and will help you find the product you need.