Stamping process
The most common stamping processes include stamping, bending, and stretching. Take the key used every day as an example. If you want to design a lower female mold with the same shape as the internal holes, and design an upper punch mold with the same shape as the internal holes, but the upper punch mold is smaller, place the sheet on the female mold and use a punch to fix it on the upper punch mold to puncture the sheet downward to obtain the desired shape key. For example, using an automatic punching machine can produce two to three hundred or more pieces per minute. This is the simplest example of punching holes. In order to enhance the required functionality or product quality, some subsequent processing procedures are still needed.
Regarding the bending process, it can be imagined that the upper and lower molds first use spring force to press the metal plate, and then use a punch to apply force to the parts that need to be bent. A watch strap can be an example of the bending process. A regular metal watch strap is made of stainless steel and is divided into two parts: a chain strap and a buckle. When you look at the fastener, you will find that it contains 3 plates, and the connector also contains a sheath and a spring inside. In order to buckle up the function, each board must be bent or curled at a certain part. Upon closer inspection, it will be found that it also uses other molding techniques. A part of the chain also includes a series of punching, bending, and pressing to give the chain the functionality and aesthetics of a chain. Of course, if you disassemble the watch, you will find more stamped parts distributed within it. Another common example is the stapler. Obviously, its structural components are made by bending metal plates.
Regarding the drawing method, you can imagine a large circular plate with a diameter of about 50 centimeters and a thickness of 0.2 centimeters. Place it on a mother mold with an inner hole diameter of 30 cm. Use a spring force pressure plate with a diameter range of 30 to 50 centimeters. Then use a punch with a diameter of approximately 29.6 centimeters to shape the sheet. The plate will be deformed from the disc into the shape of the can body, and the peripheral material will be pulled into the concave mold hole through a punch, thereby becoming the straight wall part of the can body. If you think the diameter is too large, you can use another set of female molds and punches with smaller inner diameters to reshape. This formation method is called stretching.
Stamping technology is not as simple as above, it includes more different production methods. In order to achieve better quality, each processing method must establish standards or undergo changes to continuously improve. A product consists of dozens or even hundreds of parts. If the quality of one of the parts is completely different (for example, the size of each part is different), it will be impossible to assemble the product through automation or even install manual assembly, which will lead to product failure. Therefore, today's industry participants are competing for the quality of parts processing and the reduction of manufacturing costs. Those who can produce the same or even higher quality parts at lower costs will ultimately win.
