Making of Press Dies
Monday, May 31st, 2010Metal stamping is the process of cutting and forming the sheet metal into a desired shape with the help of a device known as stamping tool. Metal stamping sheet components are in use everywhere. From the plain metal clips to complex laptop hard disc suspensions are produced by precision sheet metal stamping method.
Sheet metal stamping die design is the initial phase in stamping die manufacturing after the product drawing is done. Die drawing phase is very important. A decent stamping die model can generate highly precise parts which can work for long time with less maintenance. Die design calls for deciding the required stamping operations, basic layout, manufacturing operations, type of metal stamping presses on which the die to be loaded etc. A tool designer ought to have in-depth knowledge about these elements to produce a good quality die design. Computer aided design techniques has progressed very well during last decade to aid die makers. Below we will see the numerous processes involved in precision metal stamping die designs. The very first stage in stamping tool design is the process of analyzing the metallic component to be produced for it’s properties, dimension and complexity of the shape. Next the die designer will proceed with the strip layout design. Then he determines the cutting force and the die set to be used and begins designing the assembly drawing. After the assembly drawing is complete it is time for detailed drawing of individual die parts and last step in the metal stamping die design is the creation of bill of materials.