Stamping Parts with Cutting Tools and Ductile Materials

Stamping parts produced using cutting tools on ductile materials (e.g., aluminum, mild steel, copper) leverage the unique properties of both tools and materials to achieve clean, precise, and durable components. Ductile materials can be deformed under pressure without breaking—ideal for stamping processes like blanking (cutting a flat part from a sheet), piercing (creating holes), or trimming (removing excess material). Cutting tools (e.g., punches, dies, shears) must be strong, wear-resistant, and properly designed to work with ductile materials, ensuring smooth cuts, minimal material waste, and long tool life.

The choice of cutting tool material is critical. High-speed steel (HSS) tools are cost-effective for low-volume stamping of soft ductile materials (e.g., aluminum sheets for electronic enclosures), offering good toughness and machinability. For high-volume production or harder ductile materials (e.g., mild steel for automotive parts), carbide tools (tungsten carbide coated with titanium nitride) are preferred—they resist wear 5–10x better than HSS, maintaining sharp edges for 100,000+ stamping cycles. Tool design also matters: punches for ductile materials have sharp, rounded edges to prevent material tearing (a common issue with brittle materials) and are coated with lubricious materials (e.g., molybdenum disulfide) to reduce friction, which can cause material sticking.

Ductile materials’ properties influence stamping parameters. For example, mild steel (with a ductility of 20–30% elongation) requires higher cutting pressure than aluminum (30–40% elongation) but produces cleaner cuts. The press speed must be adjusted to match the material’s flow rate—too fast, and the material may tear; too slow, and production efficiency drops. Cutting tools must also be aligned precisely to avoid burrs (small metal protrusions) on the stamping part, which can cause assembly issues (e.g., a burr on a connector pin preventing proper insertion).

Maintenance of cutting tools is essential when working with ductile materials. Ductile materials can cause tool wear over time (e.g., aluminum can adhere to punch edges, dulling them), so regular sharpening (every 10,000–50,000 parts) and lubrication are needed. For example, a carbide punch used to blank mild steel stamping parts (e.g., washer components) should be sharpened after 30,000 cycles to maintain a clean cut. By matching the right cutting tools to ductile materials and optimizing stamping parameters, manufacturers can produce high-quality stamping parts with minimal waste and maximum efficiency.

Read recommendations:

Sealing ring Precision electronic parts

Housing components for recessed downlights Precision electronic parts

Oval Magnetic Hardware Precision electronic parts

CNC Machining Dimension Accuracy

CNC processing factory - Meeting customers' strict requirements for precision