Metal stamping presses (also known as simply ‘stamp presses’) are mechanical presses that apply powerful, consistent pressure to materials – often sheet metal – to shape, cut or “stamp” them using durable die sets that are designed to create a certain stamp effect.
These materials can then be used in a wide array of applications across countless industries, depending on the way they’ve been stamped. These include, but are not limited to, electronics, medicine and automobile manufacture.
But while stamp presses are an invaluable tool in the world of metalworking and large-scale manufacturing as a whole, it is understandable that they sometimes encounter issues that must be solved if efficient production schedules are to be met.
So if you are looking into using stamp presses within your business to create the parts you need, or you’re already using stamp presses and want to be prepared for every eventuality, here are some of the potential issues you may want to look out for (and how to solve them).
The stamp press struggles with the toughness of the material
Even though sheet metals need to be malleable enough to be stamped, they often also need to be rugged enough to meet the needs of their application once they’ve been stamped.
To combat this issue, many stamp presses come equipped with heated platens. When some metals and metal alloys are heated, their structure begins to falter and they begin to melt. However, applying gentle heat to a metal can make it more workable and responsive to pressure without ruining it completely.
Heated platens are heated platforms on which the metal is placed before it is stamped, to soften it and make it more prone to the stamping process. This way, the die can pass into or through the metal far easier, reducing the risk of failure. Plus, thanks to the reduced need for excessive pressure and the dies suffering far less damage, companies stand to save considerable cash by employing this simple method.
Inconsistent pressure produces inconsistent results
Metal stamp presses are expected to produce thousands of stamped workpieces per day when used in a large-scale operation, which is why it is understandable that, after time, they may begin to struggle and produce inconsistent results due to inconsistent pressure whereas the full tonnage would produce more desirable results.
The important thing is to spot this issue early on to avoid ruining too many workpieces and to make any repairs or technical adjustments that can be made to fix the issue. Either that or, if the issue is too severe and the machine shows no signs of improvement, it may be time to replace it altogether.
Either way, if your stamp press begins to show these symptoms, you should consult the services of a stamp press expert to see how they could be of assistance. At Cambridge Dynamics, we have years of experience working with all forms of presses, making us the perfect team to speak to.
Inaccurate stamping
Modern stamping presses are generally considered to be very accurate and can produce consistent workpieces that are identical within a millimetre of the desired results. However, some of the slightly older presses can suffer from accuracy issues from time to time.
If this sounds familiar and you haven’t updated your stamping press in a long time, it is definitely worth looking into a stamping press that operates using Computer Numerical Control (CNC) technology. This automated technology is able to direct a stamping press far more accurately than previously outdated systems and is undoubtedly more accurate than human hands, for easy and precise stamping every time.
Choose Cambridge Dynamics for your stamping press machine needs
If you’re seeking more information on a stamping press, power press, or any other press for that matter, get in touch with Cambridge Dynamics today. Our team of experts are ready and waiting to serve our customers, answer any questions you may have and offer stamping press solutions your business can use to its fullest advantage.