Metal stamping is a manufacturing process in which coils or flat sheets of material are formed into specific shapes. It is an excellent process for producing complex sheet metal parts in extremely high volumes. Below you will find the answers to the most common questions we get about the metal stamping process. Don’t see the answer you’re looking for? No worries, you can reach us by email at support@xometry.com, and we will do our best to promptly address any additional questions you may have!
How do I get a quote for metal stamping?
To get a metal stamping quote, start by uploading a supported 3D CAD file of your part to the Xometry Instant Quoting Engine. From the quoting interface, you can modify the parameters of your quote and select "Metal Stamping" from the manufacturing process drop-down menu. Be sure to specify the quantity you need and any additional requirements such as inserts, finishing, etc. Don’t forget to add any 2D drawings you have to accompany your part.
Once you have specified your requirements, you can submit your quote request, and one of our experts will begin reviewing the request. Please expect to be contacted by our team, who will work with you to learn more about your project, iron out the details, and provide you with a finalized quote. Please provide our team 24-72 hours to follow up on new metal stamping requests.
Is there a minimum quantity requirement?
Yes, since metal stamping is designed as a high-volume process requiring the production of special tools and dies, we have set a minimum quantity requirement for this process. The minimum quantity required depends on if you are ordering with our Domestic or Economy options. Please refer to the following breakdown:
- Minimum Quantity for Economy: 500 pieces
- Minimum Quantity for Domestic: 1000 pieces
If you need a number of parts lower than this, we recommend considering our standard sheet metal fabrication processes.
What materials do you offer for stamping?
Parts can be stamped from various materials from soft aluminum alloys to hard materials like steel. At Xometry, we offer the following materials for the metal stamping process:
- Aluminum:
- Alloy 1100-O
- Alloy 2024
- Alloy 3003
- Alloy 5052
- Carbon Steel:
- Stainless Steel:
- Copper:
- Brass:
- 230 (85/15) ; also known as "Red Brass"
- 260 (70/30) ; also known as "Yellow Brass"
What types of metal stamping does Xometry offer?
There are multiple types of forming techniques that encompass the metal stamping process. We offer various different stamping techniques including:
- Progressive Die Stamping: Multiple dies and steps are used to create deeper parts than would typically be achievable through single dies.
- Deep Draw Stamping: Used to create stampings with deep cavities, like enclosed rectangles. Standard draw stamping, which involves shallower dies used to shape the metal, is also a commonly utilized process.
- Fourslide Stamping: Shapes parts from four axes instead of from one direction. This method is used to manufacture small intricate parts including electronics components such as phone battery connectors.
- Hydroforming: An evolution of standard stamping. Sheets are placed on a die with a bottom shape, while the upper shape is a bladder of oil that fills to high pressure, pressing the metal into the shape of the lower die.
- Blanking: Cuts pieces out from the sheet to be further formed as the new workpiece. This is an extra step before forming three-dimensional parts that make the process easier. Fineblanking, a variation of blanking, makes highly precise cuts with smooth edges and greater surface flatness.
- Coining: A type of blanking that creates small round workpieces. Since it involves large amounts of force to form a small piece, it hardens the metal and removes burrs and rough edges.
- Punching: The opposite of blanking; it involves removing material from the workpiece instead of removing material to create a workpiece.
- Embossing: Creates a three-dimensional design in the metal, either raised above the surface or through a series of depressions.
- Bending usually happens on a single axis, and is often used to create profiles in U, V, or L shapes. Flanging is a type of bending specifically for tabs or parts of a workpiece instead of the whole part.
What are the additional features you offer for stamped parts?
At Xometry, we offer the option to add additional features to your stamped parts. This includes things like tapped holes, inserts, and part markings. We also offer diverse finishing options such as anodizing, chem-film, powder coating, metal plating, and bead blasting. All available options for your chosen material will be displayed and selectable in our quoting interface.
What are lead times like for metal stamped parts?
Lead times for the metal stamping process are often long, especially if ordering domestically. This is due to the various steps that must take place before parts can start being manufactured and shipped. Expect a longer upfront sales cycle with final quotes delivered between a week and a few weeks.
Once an order has been placed, the tooling and dies need to be designed and fabricated. Expect to receive initial part samples between 6-12 weeks for economy orders and 16-20 weeks for domestic orders. Additional time will be needed to complete the production run once you approve the samples. Lead times can vary greatly depending on your project’s specific needs. Our team of experts will be working with you closely throughout the process and offer suggestions and options to provide you with the best possible turnaround while working to meet your unique needs.
Are there any additional costs to bear in mind?
In addition to costs related to tooling, there may also be additional costs related to TPM (Total Productive Maintenance) programs. TPM is used to detect wear in the stamping tools which is important to ensure the output maintains the product specifications throughout production. Regular checks are performed after each successive run. Measurements are performed with a check-figure (or check-gauge), which usually has its own fixed, up-front costs.