The manufacturing industry requires high-volume production to meet the demands of customers and keep up with competitors. Therefore, manufacturers must know to make the best decision to choose a production process for large quantities of high-quality parts quickly and efficiently.
In this regard, the progressive stamping process has become popular among manufacturers for mass production of small and medium metal parts. These metal parts find application in various types of equipment that are used in different industries.
What is the progressive stamping process?
Progressive stamping is a metalworking process that uses a series of dies to shape and form metal sheets into parts. It allows manufacturers to produce parts in large quantities quickly and consistently.
This process uses more than one metal stamping operation. Each metal stamping station uses a different die to perform a specific operation on the metal sheet. The metal sheet is fed into the press, and each stage of the press applies pressure to the metal sheet, shaping it into the desired form.
Industries that use Progressive stamping for high volume production
Progressive stamping is useful for high-volume production runs and is a widely used metalworking process that is employed in a variety of industries for the production of various components and parts.
Industries that commonly use progressive stamping process are:
- Automotive industry: The automotive industry uses progressive stamping to create automotive components such as brackets, housings, and panels.
- Electronics industry: The electronics industry uses progressive stamping to produce components such as connectors, terminals, and contact pins.
- Appliance industry: Home appliances such as refrigerators, washing machines, and dryers use numerous stamped parts in their construction, including panels, brackets, and clips.
- Medical industry: The medical industry uses progressive stamping to produce precision parts such as surgical instruments, implant components, and medical devices.
- Aerospace industry: The aerospace industry uses progressive stamping to produce components for aircraft, such as brackets, hinges, and panels.
Why do manufacturers prefer Progressive Stamping Process for HIgh-volume Production?
Here are the top benefits that drive manufacturers to choose this method for mass production of high precision metal parts:
-
Efficiency and Speed
Traditional stamping requires multiple stamping operations that take time and may leave behind lots of scrap and waste. Since progressive stamping uses a single die to perform multiple operations, it allows manufacturers to produce parts faster and with less waste.
-
Consistency and Accuracy
High-volume production requires consistency and accuracy. A variation in the dimensions of parts can render the metal part useless for the assembly process. Multi-die on a single press system of the progressive stamping process produces consistency and accuracy. With proper die design, it is easy to create parts to exact specifications, so manufacturers can create consistent metal parts of similar size and shape, reducing the likelihood of errors during assembly.
-
Cost-Effectiveness
Even though the initial investment in the progressive stamping process could be high, the cost per part is much lower than with traditional stamping. Progressive stamping dies require less material waste and labor which ultimately reduces overall production costs. Also, progressive stamping allows manufacturers to produce more parts in a shorter amount of time, which increases the capacity to meet customer demands.
-
Versatility and Flexibility
Progressive stamping has the capability to produce a wide range of parts in various shapes and sizes. Therefore, manufacturers need to create metal parts for different products quickly and efficiently. Progressive stamping can also be easily adapted to produce metal parts of desired geometries. It makes it a cost-effective solution for manufacturers who need to create metal parts for multiple products.