Overview and Origin of Stamping Die and Hardware Stamping

Hardware stamping (also known as stamping) is the process of placing flat metal in a stamping mold in the form of blanks or coils for stamping processing, where the surface of the stamping mold usually requires heat treatment to increase hardness. Stamping includes stamping and forming various metal plates, such as using a press or hydraulic press for stamping, blanking, embossing, bending, flanging, and embossing. This can be a single engineering operation, in which each engineering of the punch produces the desired shape on the sheet metal, or it can be automated with a hardware continuous die. The stamping process is usually performed on metal plates, but it can also be used for other materials, such as plastic sheets such as polystyrene. The progressive stamping die usually consists of steel coils, which are used to feed the coils into a straightening machine to level the coils, and then feed them into a feeder that feeds the material into a press for stamping and molding through a metal stamping mold. According to the complexity of the part, the stamping process in the stamping mold and the number of stamping mold stations can be determined.
Hardware stamping is usually formed by cold stamping on a metal plate. Hardware stamping parts were mass-produced for bicycles in the 1880s. Hardware stamping replaces die forging and machining, greatly reducing costs. Although not as strong as forged parts, their quality is good enough.
Stamped bicycle parts were imported from Germany to the United States in 1890. American companies subsequently began owning presses customized by American machine tool manufacturers. At that time, Western Europe was already able to press and process most bicycle hardware stamping parts.
Several automakers used hardware stamping before Ford Motor Company. Henry Ford rejected the engineer's suggestion and refused to use stamping parts, but when the company could not meet the demand for die forgings, Ford was forced to use stamping parts later.
In the history of metal stamping, forging, and deep drawing, various types of punch presses have been the mainstays of metal manufacturing. Presses and interconnected automation equipment (automatic feeders, leveling machines) have increased productivity, reduced labor costs, and provided a higher level of safety for factory workers.
Hardware stamping process
Bending - The deformation or bending of a material along a straight line.
Flange - The material bends along a curve.
Embossing - The material is drawn into shallow depressions by a stamping die. Mainly used for adding decorative patterns.
Blanking - Cutting a piece from a piece of material, usually used as a blank for further processing.
Imprinting - The pattern is compressed or pressed into the material. Traditionally used to make coins.
Stretch - The surface area of the blank is stretched into another shape through a controlled flow of material. Deep drawing can also be seen.
Stretching - The surface area of the workpiece increases by tension, with no burrs moving inward. Usually used to make smooth body parts.
Cold Extrusion - The material is pressed by a stamping die and decreases in thickness along the vertical wall. Used in beverage cans and ammunition boxes.
Shrinkage/necking - used to gradually reduce the diameter of the open end of a container or tube.
Curl - deforms the material into a tubular profile. Door hinges are a common example.
Curl - Folds the edge onto itself to increase thickness. The edges of the door are usually crimped.
Stamping is usually performed on a press. Progressive die stamping is the combination of the above stamping processing processes into a stamping mold. When the mold is produced in one stroke, the hardware stamping process is completed by simultaneously feeding materials through a feeder.