Progressive, Compound, and Combination Die – An In-depth Guide
Die stamping is a cold-forming technique that cuts and gives the desired shape or profile to a blank metal sheet. There are different die stamping methods, but progressive, compound, and combination die forms are the most preferred methods.
As each market caters to different end uses, designs, and tolerances, production sizes demand different precision stamping methods. To choose the suitable stamping method for your product, thorough knowledge of the best die stamping processes is essential.
Let’s discuss Progressive, Compound, and Combination Die stamping, the most widely recommended die stamping techniques among top industries.
Progressive Die Stamping
This type of die stamping is ideal for producing high-volume production of stamping parts with tight tolerance specifications. The method concerns feeding a coil of metal through the stamping press that punches, bends, and shapes the parts at one go. The workpiece stays attached to the base strip from start to end, splitting the individual finished pieces from the base metal strip, which is the final step of the stamping operation. The benefits of the Progressive Die Stamping method are:
⮚ Short Cycle time for producing small parts with tight tolerance requirements
⮚ Lesser machinery set up time
⮚ Reduced Labour charges
⮚ Minimal scraps
⮚ Combines multiple operations saving both time and money
Compound Die Stamping
This type of die stamping is ideal for making simple flat parts like washers. A strip of metal is sent through the compound die, but unlike progressive die stamping, it performs multiple cuts, bends, and punches in a single stroke. It is an ideal cost-effective stamping method for medium to high volume production runs. Speed is a crucial advantage of compound die, but if the part to be stamped is larger, it may take more cycle time. The benefits of the Compound Die Stamping method are:
⮚ Best for production of simple parts in a quick and efficient way
⮚ Suitable for single-die stampings to ensure high repeatability
Combination Die Stamping
This type of die stamping is ideal for cutting the metal sheet with other operations such as bending or drawing. Since industries like aerospace, automobile, electrical, etc., need constant delivery of parts, the use of Combination Die Stamping can be of great help to reduce cycle time as it combines multiple operations simultaneously. The benefits of the Compound Die Stamping method are:
⮚ Cost-effective
⮚ Ideal for attaining both quantity and quality of finished products
⮚ Quick die setup time
⮚ Reduced wastage of sheet metal
⮚ Works well for a range of products and profile
The Stamping Industry is flexible and believes in no one-size-fits-all philosophy.
But choosing the suitable stamping method among progressive compound and combination die can be crucial in saving money and time. Therefore, understanding the working and benefits of these progressive compound and combination die methods is vital for managing your production line for stamping parts.
