All You Need To Know About Metal Stamping: A Beginners Guide

Metal stamping is a manufacturing process that enables manufacturers to produce products with complex geometries and small details. Metal stamping is ideal for high-volume production of parts with intricate designs and tight tolerances. The metal-stamping process involves a set of tools (or “stamps”) that strikes the metal sheet repeatedly to produce parts. Each time the tool touches the metal, it leaves an impression or a cut on its surface, thereby creating the final product. In this article, we will explain everything you need to know about metal stamping – from its history and benefits, to various types of stamping processes, and their pros and cons.

What is Metal Stamping?

Metal stamping is a manufacturing process that uses a set of tools (called “stamps”) to repeatedly strike a metal sheet to produce parts with intricate designs and tight tolerances. Each time the tool touches the metal, it leaves an impression or a cut on its surface, thereby creating the final product. Apart from being used in the manufacturing of simple parts (such as wires, hooks, and clips), stamping is also popularly used for the production of a variety of products with intricate designs (jewelry, auto/motorcycle parts, household appliances, etc.). The reason behind its popularity lies in the fact that stamping can produce three-dimensional parts with complex geometries and small details.

Why Should You Use Metal Stamping?

As we have mentioned above, metal stamping is ideal for high-volume production of complex parts. Besides, stamping is energy efficient and cost effective (read on to find out why). Stamping is also suitable for a wide range of applications where the exact geometry and surface finish are critical. This includes products like automotive panels and interiors, household appliances, jewelry, and sporting goods. In addition, stamping offers design flexibility because of the wide range of materials and alloys that are used for producing parts. Stamping also offers a high degree of repeatability for manufacturing standard products. Stamped parts can also be designed for a variety of forming techniques. These advantages make metal stamping an ideal manufacturing process for producing complex parts.

Types of Metal Stamping Processes

Metal stamping is an artwork executed by a stamping machine. A typical metal-stamping line comprises of several tools or stamps. Each stamp has a unique design and shapes out the part. A metal-stamping line falls under one of the following categories: – General Purpose – For producing parts with general shapes and simple geometries. – Special Purpose – For more complex geometries, such as counter-sinking, forming, and repoussage. – High-speed – For producing large components quickly. – Heavy-duty – For stamping parts made of high-strength steels. – Micro – For producing intricate parts and small details. – Micro-Heavy – For producing micro parts with high strength.

Key metrics to evaluate stamping manufacturing capabilities

– Tooling Design – The ability to design tools for stamping is an important aspect of evaluating the manufacturing capabilities of a metal-stamping facility. Stamping tool design involves the following steps: – Material Selection – Selecting the right material for metal stamping is an important step. Always bear in mind that the properties of the metal being used will directly affect the performance of the product. – Surface Treatment – Surface treatment is an important factor that affects the appearance and functionality of the final product. By surface treatment, we mean treating the product’s surface with a coating or a plating process. – Die Design – The design of the die, which is a stamping tool, directly affects the quality of the stamped parts. A good manufacturer will understand your product requirements and produce dies with the following specifications: – Stamping Force – The force required for producing stamped parts directly influences the cost of the production. Higher stamping force means higher cost.

Bottom line

Metal stamping is an ideal manufacturing process for high-volume production of complex parts. It is also suitable for producing large components quickly. The ability to design tools for stamping is an important aspect of evaluating the manufacturing capabilities of a metal-stamping facility. Stamping tool design involves the following steps: (i) tool design, (ii) die design, and (iii) material selection. The properties of the metal being used will directly affect the performance of the product. Surface treatment is an important factor that affects the appearance and functionality of the final product. The design of the die, which is a stamping tool, directly affects the quality of the stamped parts. Stamping force required for producing stamped parts directly influences the cost of the production.