Progressive Stampings

Progressive Metal Stamping is the process of creating metal parts by employing multiple metal forming / working methods. The methods are applied in a series of progressive steps to produce the final part. Manufacturing steps typically used in progressive stamping are;

• Coining
• Punching
• Bending
• Deep Drawing
• Wireforming
• Fine blanking
• Multislide stamping
• Fourslide stamping

Progressive metal stamping normally incorporates an automated feeding system to process the metal stamping through the progressive manufacturing stations or steps. Each progressive stamping step creates a new set of features. The final manufacturing step is normally a cutoff or cleanup step for the excess edge material.

Some progressive manufacturing machine use a cylindrical type feed cylinder that includes the stamping form or die. Other progressive stamping machine use a reciprocating motion to manufacture features.

Most metals are manufactured using the progressive stamping process these including the following:

• Aluminum (most alloys)
• Brass
• Steel, Cold rolled
• Copper
• Steel, Galvanized
• Steel, Hot Rolled, Cold Rolled
• Stainless Steel
• Titanium
• Zinc

Dimensional tolerances of metal parts manufactured by progressive stamping, should be carefully considered. Most experienced metal stamping manufacturers should be able to achieve +/- .010 for most features. Precision stampings or precision stamped features on stamped parts are possible without post machining or additional manufacturing steps. Precision stamping is process controlled, and collaborative design and engineering is required with the stamping manufacturer to achieve tight tolerances.