| Certain product design considerations are critical to the | | | | degree of spring-back must be accounted for in the |
| success of a precision stamped component. Attention | | | | stamping process. Other areas of concern (which can |
| to these factors can contribute to the ease of | | | | be accounted for if there is an early working |
| manufacturability of precision stamped components, | | | | relationship between the component designer and the |
| and ultimately help to minimize the final manufactured | | | | stamping die designer) involve planning for features |
| cost. The following three key design considerations will | | | | that involve drawing or coining the material. Lastly, |
| go a long way in helping to ensure manufacturing | | | | geometry issues pertaining to trimmed features, |
| success. These factors consist of attention to: (1) | | | | acceptable burr size, and part cutoff design need to |
| material selection, (2) part geometry, and (3) intended | | | | be taken into account. |
| secondary operations. A company that is well versed | | | | The third design consideration arises out of a concern |
| in designing precision stamping dies should be able to | | | | for attention to intended secondary operations. |
| provide early design-for-manufacturability assistance in | | | | Heat-treating stamped components is an option for |
| addressing these design issues. | | | | ferrous components. Tumbling may be performed in |
| First, the selection of material to be used plays a | | | | order to remove certain surface effects, such as |
| prominent role in the success of manufacturing a | | | | burrs and tool marks; however, care must be taken so |
| precision stamped component. For example, the | | | | as to not deform the part geometry. Other secondary |
| hardness of a material is directly proportional to the | | | | operations may be performed on precision stamped |
| formability of the component. Other factors to | | | | components such as passivation or electro-plating. |
| consider pertain to the thickness of the material being | | | | Some tool designers are capable of incorporating |
| stamped, and also the grain direction. These two | | | | secondary assembly operations so that these are |
| parameters are related to formability, the integrity of | | | | performed inside the stamping die during the stamping |
| small thin features on the component, and spring-back | | | | operation. In-die assembly and in-die welding are two |
| scenarios. Lastly, other material factors to be | | | | possible operations that can eliminate separate |
| considered include the flatness, finish, and abrasiveness | | | | assembly steps (after stamping), and thus effectively |
| of the raw material to be stamped. Each of these | | | | mitigate costs. |
| plays an important role in the success of producing a | | | | In short, this brief introduction to design considerations |
| quality precision stamped component. | | | | for precision stamped components is intended to spark |
| A second key consideration for a precision stamped | | | | more deliberate discussions between the component |
| component is related to part geometry. The size of | | | | designer and the designer of the precision stamping |
| holes, especially as they relate to material thickness, is | | | | die. There are other considerations that may need to |
| critical to component integrity. Bent features must be | | | | be discussed, but these are some of the more |
| carefully designed, taking into account the proximity of | | | | common design issues that should be addressed. |
| other features (such as holes), and also the fact that a | | | | |