Most people think of metal stamping as a rather old technology and method of producing small to medium sized parts and components. This is certainly true, and using manual equipment to create shapes on and in metal is not new. In fact, the first use of what is similar to modern metal stamping was likely used to produce coins, which dated back to the seventh century B.C.
Today, metal stamping uses the same basics principles, although the equipment and the possibilities in producing incredibly complex parts bear little resemblance to the earlier metal stampings. The first use of punches and dies was not until the 15th century Germany, and the use of the progressive stamping die was not until the late 1890s.
Now, with the use of CNC or computer numerical control and very specialized types of progressive and compound tools, it is possible to produce precision metal stamping at rates of speed that allow for moderate to high volume order production with limited waste, full quality control and parts produced to the required tight tolerances for any industry.
How It Works
General metal stamping and precision metal stamping use the same method, but there are differences in the die and the quality control built into the process. With precision stamping, the die are typically progressive, which means the cold sheet metal is pressed through an increasingly refined die to provide the precise shape to the tolerances required. The high tonnage presses and the precision design of the tools make this a very exact process that is still fast and creates extremely limited waste.
As the system is CNC controlled, everything is controlled and exactly the same. This allows precision metal stamping within an order or between orders to meet the same tolerance requirements, which is critical in electronics, medical devices, military and defense parts and components as well as in other industries.
