Stamping Services

Stamping services use punches and dies to create three-dimensional parts and add surface definition such as lettering to flat-sheet materials. They can process ferrous and nonferrous metals, exotic metals and alloys, precious metals, and thermoplastic materials. Stamping services differ in terms of capabilities and may use deep drawing, fine blanking, multislide stamping, or progressive die techniques. Deep drawing uses a punch to fabricate deeply-recessed parts. The depth of a deep-drawn part exceeds its width, as with a cup made from a flat metal sheet. Fine blanking is a specialized, high-precision blanking technique in which material is sheared smoothly through its entire thickness. Fine blanking can be used to produce stamped parts that do not require the performance of secondary operations. Fourslide or multislide stamping incorporates the vertical motion of a punch with horizontal die applications from multiple directions, either simultaneously or successively. Progressive dies are used in production-efficient processes where multiple stamping operations are performed in successive stages or positions along the fabrication cycle. 

Selecting a stamping service requires an analysis of services offered, secondary operations, and additional manufacturing capabilities. Most stamping services provide engineering or design assistance, short-run production, high-volume production, assembly services and/or specialty packaging. Secondary operations include drilling or tapping, CNC machining, grinding, EDM cutting, water or abrasive jet cutting, heat treating or stress relieving, welding, anodizing, electroplating, painting or power coating, and the application of black oxide finished. Computer numerically controlled (CNC) machining centers are often used to perform very precise machining operations such as turning, milling, and boring. Electrical discharge machining (EDM) cuts metal via the discharge from an electrode. There are two main EDM categories: wire and ram. With wire EDM, the electrode is a thin wire typically made of brass or other alloys. With ram EDM, the electrode is a specially shaped piece of graphite or copper alloy. Additional manufacturing capabilities for stamping services include coiling or spring making, tool making, and wire forming.

Regional preference, certifications, and quality requirements are important parameters to consider when selecting stamping services. AS 9100 is an expanded, international version of AS 9000, a standard which defines quality management system (QMS) requirements for suppliers to the aerospace industry. QS-9000 is a quality standard for suppliers of DaimlerChrysler Corporation, Ford Motor Company, and General Motors Corporation. QS-9000 is based on the 1994 edition of ISO 9001, but contains additional requirements that are particular to the automotive industry. ISO/TS 16949:2002 is an ISO Technical Specification that aligns existing American (QS-9000), German (VDA6.1), French (EAQF) and Italian (AVSQ) automotive quality systems standards for the global automotive industry. Other ISO standards for a stamping service include ISO 9001:2000 and ISO 13485:2003. Some stamping services meet U.S. military specifications (MIL-SPEC). Others are registered with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), or meet requirements from original equipment manufacturers (OEM). 

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