Metal stamping and precision sheet metal fabrication
are processes used to manufacture metal parts. While both processes have pros and cons, you must choose the most practical and efficient one for your project. Accordingly, let’s analyze metal stamping and precision sheet metal fabrication to determine which technique will best align with your design and production requirement needs.
What is metal stamping?
Metal stamping (or pressing) comprises multiple manufacturing processes that include, but are not limited to, blanking, bending, flanging, punching, and coining. This process can be completed in a single-stage operation or through several operations by placing a flat sheet of metal, in either coil or blank form, on a stamping press to shape it to its desired state.
Metal stamping pros
Metal stamping cons
What is precision sheet metal fabrication?
Precision sheet metal, which consists of a series of processes like punching, laser cutting, welding, bending, forming, hardware insertion, and assembly, is a valuable metalworking method that is employed to transform flat sheets of common steel, stainless steel aluminum, and many more alloys into virtually any shape. This robust process is used to produce a diverse range of parts and products and is especially useful when creating functional parts, such as panels, brackets, and enclosures.
Precision sheet metal fabrication pros
Precision sheet metal fabrication cons
What process should you use?
Because we offer both metal stamping and precision sheet metal fabrication
services under one roof, we can handle any project regardless of its requirements. Essentially, if you have a newer product that doesn’t have market adoption, we can fabricate parts without a large upfront investment.
Conversely, if you have market adoption and require additional parts, our in-house tool and die production capabilities will allow us to quickly fabricate them at reduced per-unit costs. In this case, any upfront costs would eventually be offset and profits would be maximized.
Moreover, for product development projects, combining our metal stamping
and precision sheet metal fabrication services is a viable option. This process would allow us to make prototype parts and easily transition them for small-scale production.
Conclusion
Metal stamping and precision sheet metal fabrication
are both common, and effective, metal formation methods. However, depending on a specific project’s circumstances, one process will prove to be more advantageous to create your product or part. With that noted, metal stamping is the more economical method as your product volume increases and order quantities grow. Ultimately, by reducing lead times and improving quality, metal stamping can help you minimize costs and maximize profits.