The Challenges of Precision Metal Stamping
Precision metal stamping is one of the most frequently used metalworking techniques employed by several industries to transform sheet metal into custom parts.
Progressive metal stamping uses a tool called a progressive die, which incorporates several stamping stations to carry out simultaneous operations on a strip of sheet metal. A feeding system unravels the strip from its coil, and it is then passed through each of the die’s various workstations until the final part is constructed.
This process uses a variety of materials and techniques, making it essential to consider all influencing factors and fully comprehend the options available before getting started.
Precision Metal Stamping Challenges
A Research and Markets report claims that by 2027 the global metal stamping market will have grown to $250 billion. With demand increasing and evolving tools and new materials for precision metal stamping, the industry must equally adjust to meet the demand. Today’s metal rolling techniques are more progressive than conventional hand processes, but manufacturers face recurring problems during production.
A recurring problem includes metal cracking, typically seen along the edges during hot and cold rolling. This may be due to uneven heating or rolling, but other metallurgical factors should also be considered.
Austenitic stainless steel is a meta-stable type, which will alter deformation, initiating a martensitic phase. Austenitic stainless steel also has a high cold hardening index (0.34% for SS). The martensite phase is brittle and prone to cracking.
Throughout plasticity deformation, with the increase of extension, the martensitic content will expand, and the residual stress will also be enhanced. The greater the relationship between residual stress and martensite content, the greater the residual stress, making it more likely that cracking will occur during processing.
Like most challenges that arise during precision metal stamping, the most significant way to negotiate cracking is to establish and tackle the root cause. Partnering with a precision reroll mill with metallurgical expertise can be a massive help for stampers in evaluating the root cause and resolving these issues.
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