Design and development of a stamping range

Of all the processes for shaping thin sheet metal (less than 3 mm thick), stamping is by far the most widely used. It's a process used to produce parts with non-developable surfaces from thin sheet metal. It is used in a number of sectors, including metal furniture, household appliances, metal packaging (tinplate) and, above all, motor vehicle bodywork, which represents around 300 stamped parts for a total steel mass of around 500 kg. It's this last application that we're particularly interested in. Given the offcuts inherent in the process, automotive bodywork accounts for some 20 million tonnes of steel per year worldwide, or almost 20% of the world's production of thin extra-soft steel sheet. Particularly developed for steel, this process can also be applied with varying degrees of ease to other materials, in particular aluminum.

For an easier approach to this article, the reader should refer to the related articles in this section:

• Suitability for stamping thin sheet metal [B 7 530] ;

• Sheet metal for shaping ;

• Stamping tribology ;

• Press forming [B 7 510] ;

• Presses [B 7 570] .