Stamping (metalworking)

Stamping is the process of placing flat sheet metal, in either blank or coil form, into a stamping press where a tool and die surface forms the metal into a new shape. Stamping includes a variety of sheet-metal forming manufacturing processes, such as punching using a machine press or stamping press, blanking, embossing, bending, flanging, and coining. This could be a single-stage operation, in which every stroke of the press produces the desired form, or it could occur through a series of stages. The process is usually carried out on sheet metal but can be used on other materials, such as polystyrene. Progressive dies are commonly fed from coils of steel, coil reel for unwinding of coil to a straightener (also known as removing the coilset, the tendency for material to keep the bend of the coil) and then into a feeder which advances the material into the press and die at a predetermined feed length. Depending on part complexity, the number of stations in the die can be determined. Stamping is usually done on cold metal sheet. Forging is a similar process using hot metal forming operations.