Progressive Die Press
Progressive Die Press
In progressive die stamping, the press uses an automatic feeding system to push a strip of metal through each stamping station. Each station performs one or more operations throughout the part-production process. Then the final station serves as a cutoff operation, which separates the finished part from the carrying web. The carrying web, along with metal punched away in previous operations, becomes scrap. With each stroke/cycle of the press, one or more completed parts get cut off and removed from the die.
To begin the process, we place the progressive stamping die into a mechanical or servo driven stamping press. As the press cycles, the top die moves up, which allows the material to feed through the die. When the top die moves back down, the die closes and performs the stamping operation. As the part advances to additional stations in the press, our quality assurance procedures ensure the strip aligns with the tooling within a few thousandths of an inch. Bullet shaped “pilots” enter previously pierced round holes in the strip to guarantee maintained alignment.
Advantages of Progressive Die Presses
Progressive metal stamping allows for efficient, high-volume runs of small parts. The tight tolerances of progressive die presses make it ideal for use in many situations. The advantages of using a progressive die press include:
Speed
The automatic feeding system of the material allows the stamping machines to run at high speed with minimal downtime, which leads to faster production times and more efficient cycle times.
Low Labor Costs
Progressive die presses with proper sensing systems allow them to run unattended, reducing the amount of operators needed to oversee machines.
Run Length
The automatic feed of material allows for long production runs, leading to a greater volume of completed parts in a shorter amount of time.
Minimal Scrap
With any manufacturing process, there will be scrap metal. However, progressive die presses use optimized tool designs to minimize the amount of waste.
Low Part Cost
Combining all of the advantages above reduces part costs.
Quick Setup
Only one setup is required when using a progressive die press to produce parts, which saves you time compared to other stamping methods.
Complex Geometry
The build of die stations allows for the creation of complex parts with increased precision.
High Repeatability
Progressive press dies are hard-coated, meaning they can withstand large-volume productions without degrading. High part-to-part repeatability ensures uniform quality throughout the entire production run.
