Metal stamping is utilized for cost effiency when a sheet metal requirement has a significant quantity range. The metal Stamping quote will include the cost for the tooling (tool & die set) to produce the parts, and also the part cost. These combined costs are compared to sheet metal prices for an anticipated cost savings. Products life will also be a determining factor in the decision making.
Metal stamping by the nature of the industry, is extremely low-labor intensive, as opposed to the sheet metal industry. Another advantage to Metal Stamping verses sheet metal is part uniformity. Because the tooling is basically performing the manufacturing operations and the likelihood of error is decreased. In addition, metal stamping can usually produce tighter tolerances and produce part edges that are almost burr-free.
A die that performs two or more operations at different stages every time the ram descends. The strip or coil stock of material is advanced through a series of stations that perform one or more distinct die operations on the workpiece. The strip must move through each succeeding station to produce a complete workpiece. Thereafter, a complete part is produced with each stroke of the ram. Progressive dies are typically utilized for Higher Production Quantities.
These dies differ from a progressive die in that they perform two or more cutting operations during the one stroke of the ram in one station only. In order to do this, both the upper and lower members of the die set carry punching and blanking elements, which are directly opposed to each other. In other words, the piercing punches act in the opposite direction with respect to blanking punches.
These dies are typically used for lower part quantities or part configurations that do no allow the use of other die applications. The first operation consists of a single die station for the blanking, which is cutting out the part periphery or the part shape. Then another die is set up for the forming operation. Some part geometry requires more of the repeated handling of the part, the costs are higher.