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What are Precision Stamping Machines? - Q123M - 09-16-2021
What are Precision Stamping Machines?
Precision metal stamping is a process for punching markings, three-dimensional shapes, or other designs into material surfaces, and precision stamping machines exert a high level of force to engrave dies and forms onto the surface material. Metals such as steel, copper, and aluminum are the most commonly stamped materials, though other metals, plastics, and cement can also undergo precision stamping.
Benefits of Precision Metal Stamping
Along with machining, die-casting, forging, and many other examples, precision metal stamping is a standard and ubiquitous manufacturing process. Some of its major benefits include:
Lower die cost: Precision metal stamping dies tend to be relatively less expensive to produce and maintain than those used in other common processes.
Lower secondary costs: Cleaning and plating precision stamping machines are cheaper than similar treatments for other metal forming techniques.
High level of automation: Precision metal stamping machines are relatively easy to automate, and can employ high-end computer-control programs that provide greater precision, faster production, and quicker turnaround times.
Precision Stamping Industries and Applications
Precision stamping machines are useful in a variety of applications, especially those involving three-dimensional designs, lettering, or other surface engraving features. Such terminal stamping products are commonly produced for home appliance manufacturers, automotive companies, telecommunications services, aerospace industries, medical equipment manufacturers, and electronics companies.
The specific products and components can range from simple metal stamping parts, such as metal clips, springs, weights, washers, and brackets, to more complex designs, such as those found in engine bases or friction plates.
Operated with Computer Numerical Control (CNC) systems and provided with precise design instructions, CNC Lathes are machine tools where the material or part is clamped and rotated by the main spindle, while the cutting tool work on the material, is mounted and moved in various axis.
CNC Lathe services are normally used for machining parts, where the material/part is clamped and rotated whereas the cutting tool is stationarily mounted for OD (Outer Diameter) and ID (Inner Diameter) operations, e.g. shafts and pipes. They are ideal for parts that have the same symmetry around an axis that could be chucked up (i.e. radially clamped) in the spindle.
Most subtractive CNC machines such as mills, water jets, and plasma cutters have the workpiece secured to a bed and the cutting done by a spinning tool. To cut, the tool moves across the workpiece or a tool head shoots at it. In contrast, CNC turning company reverses that process by rotating the workpiece and cutting away at it (by moving a static cutting bit against the workpiece).
Because of how they operate, CNC mills are primarily used for creating complicated geometries, while CNC lathes are used for creating cylindrical or oblong shapes. A CNC lathe is usually chosen over a CNC milling service or 3D printer because of its ability to make multiples of the same part incredibly fast and from one stock piece of material. Check out this mesmerizing video of a CNC lathe in action:
Horizontal turning centers are enclosed CNC lathes that integrate milling and drilling capabilities. A turning center can also include a traveling tool turret, more tooling axes, coolant flooding, a tailstock that is separated from the carriage, and sometimes a conveyor belt.
Injection molding processing is a manufacturing process that is commonly used to create plastic components. Its ability to produce thousands of complex parts quickly makes it the perfect process for the mass production of plastic components. Essentially, the process involves the injection of plastic at high speed and pressure into a mold, which is clamped under pressure and cooled to form the final part.
By melting thermoplastic and injecting it into an aluminum mold at high speed and pressure, manufacturers can create multiple complex parts at once. When the parameters of the process are controlled correctly, there’s also little need for finishing and processing the manufactured part, making it more cost-effective and efficient.