Stamping (also known as pressing) is the process of placing flat sheet metal in either steel blanks or steel coil form into a stamping press where a tool and die surface forms the metal into a net shape. Stamping includes a variety of sheet-metal forming manufacturing processes, such as punching using a steel machine press or steel stamping press, blanking, embossing, bending, flanging, and coining. This could be a single stage operation where every stroke of the press produces the desired form on the sheet metal part, or could occur through a series of stages. The process is usually carried out on sheet metal, but can also be used on other materials.
Progressive dies are commonly fed from a coil of steel, coil reel for unwinding of coil to a straightener to level the coil and then into a feeder which advances the material into the press and die at a predetermined feed length. Depending on part complexity, the number of stations in the die can be determined. Secondary steel or steel defects can be used in the stamping process specifically for parts that are not exposed to the weather or are hidden inside as an unseen component.
In conclusion, below are the small segment of the industries that rely on metal stamping are:
- Aerospace
- Agriculture
- Ammunitions
- Major appliances
- Small appliances
- Automotive
- Commercial
- Construction
- Electronics
- HVAC
- Lawn care and equipment
- Lighting
- Lock hardware
- Marine
- Medical
- Plumbing
- Power storage
- Power tools
- Small engine