The Difference between Metal Stamping and Deep Drawing

Metal stamping refers to the process of shaping and cutting metals into particular forms, and is generally used in producing components for structures or large pieces of machinery. It may also be used to mold metal sheets into specific shapes for use in common everyday items, including cans and cookware. Zinc, steel, titanium and aluminum are among the most common metals used for this purpose. Metal stamping is well known as a cost effective way to produce lots of different items on a large scale.

The metal stamping process works by placing sheets of metal in a press tool or die with a specially designed cavity that gives the sheet its preferred shape. The upper part of the die is attached to the press slide and the lower part is attached to the press bed. The punch pushes the sheet of metal through the die and does the actual shaping.

Metal may be plated with various others after stamping to prevent corrosion or improve appearance, as well as to improve soldering ability and wear. Sheets may be pre plated before stamping, then cleaned. After stamping, most items are heat treated for strength, and then deburred to remove sharp corners, with abrasives or chemical means.

There are two different kinds of presses for metal stamping - hydraulic and mechanical. They come in a wide range of capacities, stroke lengths, operating speeds and sizes. They’re growing more popular as metal stamping begins to replace other processes, including machining, fabrication, forging and die casting, due to its much lower cost and ability to handle harder metals. Metal stamping also has less expensive secondary processes, and is the only way to produce some kinds of products.

Deep drawing is also a process of forming sheet metal through a forming die with a punch. Metal in the area of the die shoulder undergoes a lot of stress, and will result in wrinkles if a blank holder is not used to control the flow of material into the die. Material is usually thickest in the area where the metal loses contact with the punch - the punch radius - and thinnest in the areas where stresses are greatest. Deep drawing is often used to produce metal objects that are more than half their diameters in height. The metal is stretched around a plug, and then moved into the die.

Items often made by deep drawing include cupped baking pans, like muffin pans, and aluminum can cylinders. However, irregular items, like fire extinguishers and enclosure covers for oil filters in trucks are also made this way - as is your kitchen sink! Products made by deep drawing are deep and seamless. The finished shape produced by a drawing press depends on the position in which the blanks are pushed down. Only malleable metals that are very resistant to damage by tension and to stress can be used in this process.

Industries where deep drawing is often used include the dairy industry, pharmaceuticals, plastic manufacture, and the auto industry, aerospace and lighting. Companies making parts by deep drawing need expensive presses and operations put together by trained engineers, as well as plates, molds, and other accessories. Unlike metal stamping, deep drawing uses a single piece blank, not a continuous stream of blanks.

Contact deep drawing and metal stamping specialists in Canada for all your deep drawing and metal stamping requirements.