If you’re familiar with flat sheet metal in your business’ manufacturing process, you’ve likely needed to use stamping presses in the past. Punching and stamping presses play an integral part in creating workable metal pieces that can be used in a wide array of applications.
But when it comes to metal stamping presses, you have two key options to choose from – manual metal stamping presses, or automated metal stamping presses. Which you choose will depend on the types of materials you’re stamping, the volume of materials and your preferred stamping techniques.
At Cambridge Dynamics, we’re experts in all forms of presses, including forming presses, punch presses, stamping machines and more. So here is a little more info on stamping presses, so you can decide which version would serve you best.
What is a metal stamping press?
In short, a metal stamping press (or stamp press) is a machine that utilises pressure to “stamp” materials – usually flat sheet metal or a metal strip in blank form – into specific shapes so they can be used in a variety of ways.
The metal workpiece is placed between a male and female die before the ram of the press is forced downward by hand or automatically (we’ll get to that in a moment) with the force resulting in the metal changing shape. In progressive die stamping, where multiple dies are used at once, you’re able to produce different shapes in one go.
Punch presses are almost identical, but the term is often used to describe the process of “punching” holes in metals, rather than just shaping them.
What is the difference between a manual metal stamping press and an automated metal stamping press?
Manual metal stamping presses
As the name suggests, manual metal stamping presses require the user to place their chosen material beneath the ram of the press, before using a large lever to force the ram downward into the metal. The force of the lever being pulled offers the ram enough force to bend the metal around your chosen dies, producing the desired shape.
Because of the level of physical involvement and the energy required to stamp metals individually, manual metal stamping presses are usually only recommended for small to medium-sized jobs. So if you have a lot of sheet metals you need to stamp, you should consider upgrading to an automated stamping press.
Automated metal stamping presses (hydraulic presses and mechanical presses)
Automated metal stamping presses, on the other hand, require very little physical labour on the part of the user, other than perhaps positioning the material in place before stamping begins. Utilising Computer Numerical Control (CNC) and either hydraulic press force or mechanical press force (hydraulic presses and other mechanical presses can produce consistent pressure without human intervention) the ram is automatically moved downward into the material with consistent pressure, to produce the required shape.
Automated hydraulic presses or mechanical presses remove the need for physical force from the user, saving them time and energy. Because they’re able to work through far more pieces of material in a short space of time, these stamping presses are perfect for more industrial applications, where companies need access to many stamped materials regularly.
All your stamp press needs are covered with Cambridge Dynamics
Whatever your stamping press needs, at Cambridge Dynamics we’re very experienced in helping businesses with their stamping operation, whatever it may be. If you need a hand with your press processes or would like more information, get in touch with Cambridge Dynamics today.