What is Metal Stamping? Insights from a Respected Metal Stamping Manufacturer

Thousands of companies across the United States offer metal stamping services to deliver custom components for industries around the world. These include the automotive, aerospace, medical, and other markets. As markets evolve, the need for quickly-produced large quantities of various metal components increases.

Working with experienced metal stamping is a crucial factor in making sure these needs are met, as well as choosing the right metal stamping process is right for the job. Metal stamping near me is the fastest and most affordable solution for this large-quantity manufacturing need.

But what is metal stamping? Turns out there’s a lot more that goes into shaping metal components than one would think. Continue reading to learn more about the processes performed by the experts on metal stamping near me.

We often take them for granted, but every metal component from the end caps for pipes, to tiny metal screws, need to be stamped by a precision metal stamping company. Each specific type of component and material requires a different process to ensure the quality and accuracy of its performance.

There are 4 main approaches to metal stamping that you’ll see performed. These include progressive die stamping, four-slide stamping, deep-drawn metal stamping, and short-run stamping. For a custom stamped metal product from a manufacturer of metal stamping near me, your results will depend on your process.

Progressive die stamping features various stations, each with a different function. At the first station, strip metal is fed through a progressive stamping press. The metal strip unrolls steadily from a coil and into the die press, where each station in the tool then performs a different cut, punch, or bend.

The actions of each stamping station add to the work of the previous stations, resulting in a completed part. Hence the name “progressive.”

Deep-drawn-metal stamping is ideal for specialty geometric shapes and indentations in your metal components. Deep drawing involves pulling sheet metal into the die via a punch, forming it into a specific shape. The method is referred to as deep-drawn stamping because the depth of the drawn part exceeds its diameter.

This type of metal stamping process is ideal for creating products that need more than one series of diameters, and it’s an affordable alternative to turning processes, which typically require using up any additional raw materials. Common uses and products produced from deep-drawn stamping include automotive components, aircraft components, electronic relays, utensils, and cookware.

Fourslide metal stamping involves horizontal alignment and four different slides; in other words, four tools are used at the same time to shape the metal desired component. This process allows for intricate cuts and complex bends to develop the most complex metal products.

As derived from the name, a fourslide has four slides — meaning that up to four different tools, one per slide, can be used to achieve various bends and functions. As the metal feeds into a fourslide stamper, the bending occurs in quick succession by each shaft that is equipped with a tool.

Short-run metal stamping is a process that requires very little upfront tooling expenses and is ideal solution for prototypes or other small projects. After a metal blank is created, metal stampers use a combination of custom tooling components and die inserts to bend, punch or drill the component.

The custom forming operations and smaller run size can result in a higher per part charge, but the absence of tooling costs can make short-run more affordable for many projects, especially those that require faster turnaround.

Wedge Products is a leading choice in metal stamping near me. As experts in the production of automotive components, as well as an AS9100-D certified aerospace manufacturer, Wedge offers unmatched experience creating custom metal components for a variety of industries, having completed countless projects with custom finishes and packaging requirements.

With their expert aerospace team, advanced equipment, and dedicated facility, Wedge can produce high-quality custom aerospace components with zero defects for every customer. Wedge Products has the resources and skills to handle the most challenging metal stamping projects for the automotive, aerospace, and many other prominent industries. Visit https://www.wedgeproducts.com/index.html to learn more.