Metal is one of the most valuable materials that is widely used across multiple industries. This can be attributed to its physical and chemical properties.
Metallic parts are generally stronger than wooden and ceramic parts. There are several processes involved in a metal stamping company when using metal as a raw material.
Stamping is one such process that is extensively being used due to its affordability and ability to produced well-shaped parts. It uses various forming techniques resulting in good quality and durability. It dates back to more than a century ago. Here is more on the topic.
What is It?
In simple terms, it basically refers to the art of making complex shapes and patterns on metal. A plain sheet known as a blank is fed into a machine consisting of properly arranged dies.
A die is then pressed on the metal sheet with controlled force and for a given time to produce the desired product. Stamping is a method that has been in use since the industrial revolution period when it was being used to produce simple components.
Nowadays, technological advancements have revolutionized it thus allowing the incorporation of automated systems such as the CNC. This has resulted to production of more sophisticated components that are of high quality.
What are some of the processes involved?
- Punching and blanking
These two complement each other. Punching involves the use of a die to create a shape in the sheet which is then removed leaving behind a material with a hole in it as the product. On the other hand, blanking involves the same process but the removed part is the desired part. These two are basically used to create the desired shapes by removing some parts.
- Embossing
A sheet of metal is pressed onto a die of desired design thus producing a shape or pattern on the opposite end. The shape is either raised or sunken depending on the side that you are viewing it from.
- Coining
It involves striking of the edges of a stamped material. This is done to make them smoother and stronger considering that the material undergoes plastic deformation in the process. The grain alignment must also be taken into account while doing so. Coining helps in refining the details thus eliminating the need for finishing techniques such as grinding and debarring.
- Bending
This involves a press brake that uses a die and punch to deform the metal into various shapes like L, U, and V. The machine used can be pneumatic, hydraulic, mechanic, or CNC. The process results in plastic deformation.
What are the advantages and disadvantages?
One of the main advantages of stamping is that it is a cold forming process thus it is affordable. Processes that require heat are usually very expensive considering the amount of energy required to produce the desired amount of heat.
Also, the cost of secondary procedures like plaiting is lower for stamped products than for those produced using other methods. Where coining is used it eliminates the need for grinding and debarring.
Another advantage is that it allows automation easily that results to large-scale production within a short time frame. Automation also allows for manufacture of high quality products that are long-lasting. CNC, for example, is preferred for the manufacture of high-precision components and mission critical parts because of how reliable it is. Computerization makes it easy to achieve a high level of accuracy.
The downside of stamping is that presses are expensive. It is also laborious to change dies mid production where alterations are required. Despite the affordable price of a die creating a customized one is time consuming.
What should one consider when choosing a company?
When looking for a company to provide you with metal stamping services there is a number of factors that you should take into account to help you choose the right one. Here are some of them.
- Qualification and experience
You need a company that has well-trained personnel who are able to do their job competently. They should have both theoretical and practical knowledge of the job.
Go for a company that has been operational for a long time and has experienced technicians who have in-depth understanding of metal stamping.
Experience also earns them a reputation that you should consider so as to know what to expect. Get more information on them by going through the online reviews written by other customers.
- Equipment and material
Apart from the level of skills of the workers, the tools and material used for the work also affect the results.
Companies with state-of-the-art equipment are able to produce goods that are of high quality. The material used will influence the durability of the final product. Make sure that they are using quality metals and not inferior ones.
They should also be versatile enough to be able to implement several different techniques hence offer a variety of services.
- Legitimacy
Make sure that they are registered by the government. Ask to see their license and other relevant documentation. Failure to do so might get you into trouble if it is later found out that they are criminals.
- Customer care
The company you choose should be having your best interests at heart. This is depicted by how they treat their customers. Only deal with professionals who are able to consider your specific needs and fully satisfy them. Click here to read more on how you can start a metal stamping company.
Conclusion
Metal stamping is one of the oldest fabrication processes that is still in use today. It entails the use of cold forming techniques to create products of various shapes, patterns, and designs that are of good quality. It is also cheaper than other means of fabrication considering that it doesn’t require heat and it supports automation. You should use the guidelines above to help you pick the right company for the job. Do a background check on them to find out whether they are reputable or not. Also, make sure that they are qualified and experienced. To get the best deal in terms of price, ask for quotes from different companies and compare them.
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