Progressive blanking tool design

Precision progressive blanking tool design

Stamped metal parts usually require more than one operation in one. This tool produces a high volume mounting bracket that pierces holes, blanks out a shape by cutting the strip into separate parts and finally folds the part into an L shape. At each hit a final product falls off at the end of the tool. It is made for a high production automated punch press using coil and an air feeder for continuous operation.

The progressive metal stamping tool and die design consists of all the necessary features that any stamping tool should have from ease of use to high accuracy to reliable operation for a long time. It includes strip feed and guide, stripping, slug separation, and feeder actuation. As an option the tool can be used as a manually operated tool without the air feeder using strips instead of coil.

The cutting components are designed to be made of hardened tool steel that ensures long usability. Choosing the right alloy for the application and the proper design for the tool can greatly affect the life of the tool. As a result it can operate trouble free for longer, saving on maintenance, and reduce or eliminate downtime and minimize costs that are associated with the value of the final product.

This progressive blanking tool was designed using SolidWorks 3D CAD. Shop drawings, and files generated from the models seamlessly fit into any machine shop or tool room's profile.

Vortool Manufacturing Ltd.

Unit 240 19358-96 Ave.

Surrey, BC V4N 4C1 Canada

Call: 604-239-7218 | Email

Made in Canada

High precision metal blanking tool design

High precision blanking tool design and manufacturing

Special products require special tooling and design. Blanking thin foil type material is a challenge of its own. E.g., a 0.002 - 0.005 thickness stock to be blanked requires such small amount of cutting clearance that it is a very difficult task for most tool makers and for the equipment to do properly.

For this particular design the finished blank was made of three layers. There were two carbon film layers of 0.003 thick with a copper foil between 0.0005 thickness. The requirements were the following:

1. The part must be perfect, have no bur at all.
2. Part is rejected if the carbon chips off from the metal.
3. Part is rejected if the carbon is separated from the metal at any given area.

The customer provided samples, made by others that did not meet the request and were then rejected.

• The above criteria was achieved by using the right amount of cutting clearance for the design that this particular material needed.
• To avoid separation of the layers, the blank must have the least amount of flexing.
• To eliminate chipping of the brittle carbon layers that were only semi bonded to the copper were another challenge.
• A gentle even holding pressure was required to hold the material while it was blanked, while reducing the travel distance of the blank inside the die cavity.
• To accommodate all of the above, the tool had to be well guided, with low impact movement with no vibration or sudden shocks.

The part was to be handled by lab technicians so the tool could be built for this "Clean Room" environment.

The result was excellent as expected, and the parts came out perfect.

The combination of a good metal stamping die design and precision tool and die manufacturing was the key to this success.

Vortool Manufacturing Ltd.

Unit 240 19358-96 Ave.

Surrey, BC V4N 4C1 Canada

Call: 604-239-7218 | Email

Made in Canada