Stamping is one of the most widely used operations in any mold shop: a press and a die apply external force to sheet, strip, tube, or profile stock, causing plastic deformation or separation to produce parts of the required shape and size. In our industry it is the bread-and-butter process, and the four main categories—blanking, bending, deep drawing, and forming—cover everything from small electronic connector contacts to large automotive body panels. For die engineers, the key point is that each category imposes its own demands on die structure, guidance, and press selection, so process planning has to start before the die layout is finalized.
Take blanking as an example. The punch-die clearance is typically set at 5% to 10% of material thickness. Run the clearance too tight and you get a high proportion of bright sheared band on the cut edge, but die wear accelerates quickly and regrinding intervals shorten. Run it too loose and the collapse angle becomes pronounced while burrs exceed spec, which later shows up as fitment and assembly problems. In practice, the clearance has to be dialed in through repeated trial cuts based on the specific material grade and stock thickness—published tables give you a starting point, not a final answer. The same discipline applies to bending allowance and draw radii, where springback and material flow behavior must be verified on the actual die rather than assumed from the drawing.
What separates a stable stamping process from a troublesome one usually comes down to details: consistent strip feeding, reliable piloting, adequate die block rigidity, and a maintenance schedule that matches the wear rate of the cutting edges. Keeping records of clearance settings, regrind history, and burr measurements for each die gives you a real basis for troubleshooting instead of guesswork. For more mold sourcing information and supplier resources, visit MoldSo at www.moldso.com.