The sheet metal forming by stamping is a way of working the plate and get parts for a wide range of sectors: appliances, telecommunications, automotive, hardware, industrial machinery, home furnishings and furniture, electrical components.... are only some of them.
Stamping consists on compressing a specific metal between two moulds. There are two types of stamping: the progressive stamping and printing by percussion. In progressive type, compression is continuously applied while in percussion stamping, pressing is applied intermittently with a press or hammer.
With thin sheet-metals, it is normally used cold stamping. It is called “cold stamping” because the process is done with material at lower temperatures than its recrystallization temperature.
This sheet-metal forming process will be only satisfactory for plates made of ductile and malleable metals such as carbon steel, stainless steel, aluminium, copper, brass, titanium, etc.
Main advantages of the stamping are as follows: pieces can have complex shapes, there is a wide range of materials to work with, and producing a high quantity of parts does not suppose high cost and expensive labour. Additionally, the surface finish is good but can be further treated to improve some properties.