Metal stamping cuts and forms shaped components from steel coils using progressive dies and specialized presses and feeders. The metal stamping process is fast and efficient, making it ideal for the high-volume production of metal parts and components.
Clairon Metals is a leading provider of metal stamping services across the southeastern United States. We specialize in sheet metal stamping, providing parts, blanks, and components of all complexities in medium-to-high volumes. Contact us today to learn more or get started!
Metal Stamping 101
Here are some of the most common processes used in metal stamping services, all of which can be done in series in a progressive die or in steps on separate dies:
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Punching
The punching process is used to create holes in a workpiece. The process uses a die to remove a scrap piece of material, punching a shaped hole in the workpiece. The scrap piece, known as a slug, is commonly recycled.
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Blanking
Blanking is typically the first metal stamping step. Blanking cuts a predetermined section out of a larger piece of sheet metal for use as a more reasonably sized workpiece.
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Embossing
Embossing creates raised or recessed shapes in sheet material by feeding sheet metal through a set of opposing male and female roller dies. One set of rollers is stationary while the other applies pressure to create the desired shape.
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Bending
The bending process is much as it sounds. The workpiece is placed on a die and a ram pushes against it to bend the part into the desired shape.
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Coining
Coining is a precision stamping process that creates fine details by applying a high level of force to a workpiece to press features into the metal surface. This process may only be conducted using high-tonnage presses.
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Flanging
The flanging process bends metal at or near a 90-degree angle to create flanges—strengthened rims on the workpiece used for assembly, strength, or aesthetics. Flanging operations are typically incorporated into dies for other processes to reduce costs.
Metal Stamping Methods
At Clairon Metals, we utilize the following methods to deliver comprehensive metal stamping services:
- Progressive die stamping. Progressive die stamping feeds a metal coil through a series of stations designed to perform simultaneous operations. As the strip of metal moves through the process, each die station alters the metal until the final process cuts the completed part from the strip.
- Transfer die stamping. Transfer die stamping separates the workpiece from the strip and moves it between operation stations using a mechanical transfer system. This method is ideal when the presence of the metal strip may impede operations.
- In Die Tapping. A rotating mechanism engages with the downstroke of the press to tap a pierced and extruded hole, making a threaded hole for use with machine screws.
Our Presses
Clairon Metals has the capacity to handle a broad range of sheet metal stamping operations. We possess automated stamping presses from 35–1,100 tons, with electronic feeds to support fast, medium-, and high-volume production. This high-capacity press capability allows us to perform heavy gauge stamping for heavy-duty applications. We can handle die sizes up to 70 inches by 170 inches and coil widths and thicknesses up to 60” and ⅜” of an inch respectively, making us a premier choice for metal stamping for large parts.
We have 23 stamping presses to accommodate a broad range of stamping needs. The two primary types are:
- Mechanical Coil Fed
- Mechanical Single hit
Metal Stamping Ferrous & Non-Ferrous Materials
Clairon Metals works with a variety of ferrous and non-ferrous metals to perform sheet metal stamping and heavy gauge stamping, including:
- Low Carbon Cold rolled and hot rolled steel
- High Strength Low Alloy Coil HSLA
- High Carbon and Spring
- Prepaint Coil
- Galvanized and Galvalume
- Stainless steel 300, 400 and other series
Frequently Asked Questions (faq)
What production volumes do your metal stamping services support?
We specialize in medium-to-high volume production runs, utilizing 16 mechanical presses ranging from 35 to 1,100 tons to deliver rapid turnaround times and consistent quality.
What maximum metal thickness and size can you accommodate?
Our heavy gauge stamping capabilities allow us to process coil thicknesses up to 3/8 of an inch, coil widths up to 63 inches, and die sizes up to 68 inches by 170 inches for large component manufacturing.
Which materials can be processed with progressive and transfer die stamping?
We perform sheet metal stamping using a wide range of ferrous and non-ferrous materials, including hot and cold rolled steel, HSLA coil, high carbon spring steel, prepaint coil, galvanized/galvalume steel, and 300/400 series stainless steel.
Clairon Metals for Your Metal Stamping Needs
As a Thomas verified supplier, Clairon Metals offers high-quality metal stamping for large parts alongside custom metal stamping services for medium- and high-volume production runs. For more information about our capabilities, please contact us today.