Forming presses are used the world over in all areas of metalwork and production.
They allow for the creation of products used in essential industries, including the automotive industry, construction, and electronic components.
You might have heard a forming press referred to as a stamping press. It’s a common thing but it’s not entirely accurate and could result in you investing in the wrong thing if you don’t know the difference.
But is there a major difference between the forming press and the stamping press? Are they truly interchangeable? Or do you need to invest in a particular type of press based on what you need?
Let’s discuss…
What is a forming press?
A metal forming press is a machine that uses high pressure to manipulate metals (often sheet metals when they begin) into various shapes for use in manufacturing.
While forming presses perform very specific functions, ‘forming press’ is actually an umbrella term that encompasses many machines that are involved in numerous types of metal pressing.
Hemming, for example, is where the edges of metals are bent by a forming press to make them stronger and to create specific angles.
This isn’t too far removed from rolling, which is when sheet metal is passed through heavy rollers to bend or flatten it.
There are plenty more pressing functions that are achieved by machines that can be accurately described as forming presses. While stamping presses are similar, they can be categorized in their own special wing.
What is a stamping press?
Technically, the stamping press is a type of forming press.
However, the very specific ways stamping presses shape metal and their wide applications mean they’re often talked about in a separate category.
Stamping presses work by placing sheet metal between forming dies before pressure is applied to “stamp” a certain shape in the metal. Think of them as a more advanced version of a hammer and an ironwork block.
This is often confused with punch pressing, which differs in the fact that a piece of metal is punched out and is separated from the metal at the end of the process, whereas stamping presses just shape the metal to the desired specifications of the user.
For example, automotive parts that make up car bodies, are stamped in specific shapes to produce car doors, roofs, bonnets and virtually all other metal parts you see on cars.
Explore forming presses and stamping presses with Cambridge Dynamics
If you think metal presses, like forming presses and stamping presses, have a place in your business, speak with Cambridge Dynamics.
Our extensive experience creating parts for a wide array of industries and working with metal-forming machinery means we’re ideally placed to offer a manufacturing solution to meet your requirements.
Whatever you need, we can fulfil your forming applications and guide you through the best methods for your desired item shape, taking materials, deadlines and your budget into account.
Get in touch with our team of experts today to discuss your metal forming needs. Fill out our online contact form or send an e-mail to enquiries@cambridgedynamics.co.uk, and we’ll respond as soon as possible.
Or you can give us a phone call on 01480 459555 to speak to someone at our headquarters in Cambridgeshire.