What is metal stamping?
Metal stamping is a manufacturing process that transforms a sheet of metal into a three-dimensional part of a desired size and shape using a single metal stamping die or series of dies. Products produced through metal stamping are used in industries such as automotive and household appliances, with automotive stamping parts being a crucial aspect of the metal stamping industry.
Metal stamping is an efficient method of forming sheet metal, with the metal stamping die being installed in a press and each press stroke creating a workpiece. The process is carried out by qualified metal stamping workers. Metal stamping dies are manufactured by specialized machine tools or factories, some of which also produce the stamping parts.
See too:
- Metal Stamping and Die Design: The Ultimate Guide
Stamping Features
Printing production depends on molds and presses to carry out the processing process. It has several technical and economic advantages over other processing methods:
(1) The mold ensures the dimensional accuracy of stamped parts, leading to consistent quality and good interchangeability.
(2) Mold processing allows the production of parts with thin walls, light weight, high rigidity, good surface quality and complex shapes that are difficult or impossible to manufacture by other methods.
(3) Stamping typically does not require heating the blank or cutting a large amount of metal, thus saving energy and conserving metal.
(4) Ordinary presses can produce dozens of parts per minute, while high-speed presses can produce hundreds of thousands of parts per minute, making them an efficient processing method.
Due to its striking characteristics, the stamping process is widely used in various sectors of the national economy. For example, industries such as aerospace, machinery, electronics, transportation, weapons, household appliances and light industry use stamping processing. It is not only prevalent in the industry, but individuals also encounter printed products in their daily lives.
Stamping can be used to produce small, precise parts found in clocks, clocks, and instruments, as well as larger parts for automobile and tractor covers. Materials that can be stamped include ferrous metals, non-ferrous metals and some non-metallic materials.
Related Reading: Ferrous vs Non-Ferrous Metals
Stamping also has some disadvantages, mainly in the form of noise and vibration during the stamping process. These problems are not only caused by the stamping or die process, but are mainly attributed to outdated traditional stamping equipment.
Advantages of stamping
Compared to other mechanical and plastic processing methods, stamping processing offers several unique advantages in terms of technology and economy. The main benefits are the following:
(1) The stamping process is efficient, easy to operate, and can be easily automated and mechanized. This is due to the use of dies and stamping equipment, with common presses capable of producing dozens of blows per minute and high-speed presses capable of producing hundreds or even thousands of blows per minute. Additionally, each stamping stroke can result in a punch.
(2) The stamping process ensures dimensional accuracy and shape consistency through the use of a die and normally does not compromise the surface quality of the stamped parts. Furthermore, the matrix has a long service life, providing stable and consistent quality, good interchangeability and “identical” characteristics.
(3) Stamping can process large-sized and complex-shaped parts, such as small clocks and watches, automobile longitudinal beams and covers. Furthermore, the hardening of materials by cold deformation during stamping leads to increased strength and stiffness.
(4) Stamping generates minimal waste, conserves materials and does not require additional heating equipment, making it a material-saving and energy-efficient process with low costs for stamped parts.
Disadvantages of stamping
The stamping process is becoming increasingly sophisticated, but it also has some disadvantages:
① Mechanical press is widely used in stamping processing, with fast operation speed and high manual strength.
② The dies used in stamping are complex, with a long manufacturing cycle and high cost.
③ Stamping processing requires specific molds, making it more suitable for large-scale production and limiting it to the production of single parts or small batches.
④ Stamping die design emphasizes traditional theory and experience, requiring strong imagination and creativity, and imposing high requirements on the die designer and manufacturer.
Advantages and disadvantages of cold stamping and hot stamping
Metal stamped parts can be processed using two methods: cold stamping and hot stamping, depending on the temperature during the stamping process. The appropriate processing method is determined by factors such as the material's strength, plasticity, thickness, degree of deformation and equipment capacity, as well as the original heat treatment state and intended end use of the material.
Let's explore the advantages and disadvantages of these two training methods.
Cold stamping
Cold stamping is a process for manufacturing metal parts at normal temperature. It has the advantage of not requiring heating, producing printed parts without oxidized skin and with good surface quality and low hardness.
The disadvantage is that hardening may occur and, in severe cases, the metal may lose its ability to further deform. Cold stamping requires that the blank be of uniform thickness with minimal fluctuations and that the surface be clean and free from blemishes and scratches.
Hot Stamping
Hot stamping is a stamping method that heats metal within a specific temperature range. Its benefits include eliminating internal stresses to prevent hardening, increasing material plasticity, reducing resistance to deformation, decreasing equipment energy consumption, and high hardness.
Its disadvantage is the presence of an oxidized film, which requires acid washing or shot peening. The high hardness also increases the difficulty of subsequent processing, requiring laser technology for cutting and drilling.
