Manufacturers who are considering adding or replacing a supplier of precision metal stamping face a daunting task of evaluation. Often, the process requires site visits to one or more metal stamping companies and a complex evaluation system, where the quality audit checklist is only the start. The technology and equipment at a precision metal stamper can be unfamiliar to even the most seasoned purchasing managers or engineers. But by concentrating on six key areas, OEMs can effectively evaluate whether the metal stamping operation meets their long-term performance standards.
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- Quality Assurance
- Staff Expertise
- Advanced Technology
- Excess Capacity
- Financial Stability
- Global Competitiveness
1. Quality Assurance
Quality certifications from the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) are the minimum requirement for quality assurance. When touring a metal stamping plant, look for evidence of a total quality assurance program that begins with part design and prototyping and carries through to the end product and packaging.
Evaluate whether the firm has a prevention focus to its quality control, with continual monitoring and detection systems to spot problems quickly. Quality-minded metal stampers use automated inspection equipment, such as in-die sensors and
video inspection systems, to ensure consistent quality. In fact, sensor technology is effective in preventing problems such as high reject rates and high levels of scrap, as explained in Metal Stamping Sensors Boost Efficiency, Quality.
Metal stamping companies also employ statistical process control systems to track and analyze the variability in the metal stamping process and to monitor manufacturing statistics in real time, in order to spot trends and identify unacceptable variances.
Although it may seem obvious, quality also can be observed in a clean, well-organized manufacturing facility.
2. Staff Expertise
During the tour, talk with the engineers to evaluate the depth of their expertise. Ask whether their engineers are able to provide advice on new part design and production (DFM), including such issues as material selection and cost-effective production volumes.
OEMs also should evaluate the depth of the entire technical team, including the number of tool and die makers on staff. The ultimate quality of the metal stamping depends upon the quality of the custom tool and die the stamper creates for the project. Some metal stamping firms farm out tool and die design to external suppliers.
To ensure that each project runs smoothly from start to finish, the metal stamping company should field a team of technical project managers assigned to specific clients.
It also pays to determine whether the entire staff receives regular training on quality, technological advances and other relevant topics. (See the blog, Continual Training Demonstrates a Commitment to Quality.) In addition, an apprenticeship program that trains new tool and die makers indicates that the company is forward looking and willing to invest in the future.
3. Advanced Technology
OEMs expect their suppliers to keep up with the latest technology, which can speed time to market and cut manufacturing costs. For metal stampers, technological advances may consist of powerful new software or the latest in-die sensing technology to monitor quality throughout the stamping process.
New simulation software, with 3-D tool design, enables metal stampers to perfect part design before prototyping and/or production. The simulation software models the new part with different material options to determine manufacturability and reliability, showing how the part will react in the die and helping in the debugging process to make a more robust part. For more information on simulation software, read How Metal Stamping Simulation Software Saves Money.
As you tour a metal stamping company, ask them to point out any technology they have recently added or new technology in the pipeline. A metal stamping company that is reinvesting in both its technology and its people demonstrates a commitment to quality and innovation.
4. Excess Capacity
As you tour the facility, ask about the total number of presses available to run metal stamping projects and the production volumes that the firm can easily handle. Metal stamping companies should have excess capacity, as well as redundant equipment, in case one press goes down, so that on-time delivery is not jeopardized and changes in demand can be easily accommodated.
A metal stamping firm that has its own on-site maintenance department has an advantage in keeping machinery up and running properly. In-house tool maintenance of existing tools provides similar benefits in avoiding downtime and potential tool problems, although many metal stampers outsource that function.
A site visit should also include touring any secondary operations that are offered in-house, such as mechanical finishing, assembly and custom packaging.
5. Financial Stability
Although many metal stamping firms are privately held businesses that do not divulge their financial statements, manufacturers can get an idea of the company’s financial stability by requesting D&B reports. It is important to deal with a firm that is not highly leveraged, so that cyclical economic forces do not undermine its long-term operations. Perhaps the most important indication of stability is the number of years that the firm has been in business.
6. Global Competitiveness
Manufacturers continue to evaluate offshore operations in lower cost countries, but metal stamping companies with U.S. operations remain highly competitive in price, quality and on-time delivery, which are the top three demands that OEMs identify for suppliers. The reason is that tool and die makers rely on highly skilled workers with specialized expertise that is not available in many overseas locations. Another major factor in pricing of metal stamping is material costs, where cost differentials among other countries are not significant. As a result, manufacturers often choose to go with a U.S. supplier who can deliver on quality and ship to overseas assembly sites in Europe, Latin America and the Pacific Rim.
When reviewing estimates from U.S. and off-shore metal stamping facilities, manufacturers should compare the all-in price of part production and shipping, and consider such issues as access to customer service, shipping timeframes and potential country risks such as currency fluctuations.
According to historians, metal stamping was first practiced on coins in the 7th century BC. The process involved creating a die and using a heavy hammer to carve the metal. The process wasn't refined until , where 12 people had to work together to get the job done by screwing the die into the metal coin.
Today, it can be done all by yourself from the comfort of your own home. Metal stamping allows for you to create personalized gifts for every holiday and occasion, all for an affordable price. There's nothing better than something handmade from the heart. If you'd like to know more about how you can get into metal stamping yourself, follow our beginner's guide.
Metal Stamping Tools
Like any hobby, metal stamping requires specialized tools to get started. Some tools may seem a bit pricy, but our high-quality jewelry-making tools tend to last a long time and end up paying for themselves, making the investment worth the money.
The following list of tools can easily be found on our website, with tools for every skill level. You can purchase them separately or in a convenient jewelry stamping kit for beginners that we offer. The tools include:
- A stamping hammer
- Metal stamps (both metal letter stamps and metal design stamps)
- Polishing cloths
- Stamping tape
- Stamping enamel or paint pens
- Metal tags or blanks
- A stamping block
All of the above can be purchased separately or as part of a metal stamping kit.
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How to Get Started
Everything You Need To Know To Find The Best Galvanized Woven Wire MeshGetting started with metal hand stamps is easy. It can be done in the following four steps.
Step 1
Begin by setting up a sturdy workspace; you're going to be hammering, after all. If you're worried about damaging the surface of your workspace, you can put a strong piece of wood over the top. If you're stamping on a table, make sure to stamp over the sturdy leg of the table, that way the force of your hammering can be dispersed evenly.
Step 2
Get all of your equipment together and set your stamping block close to you. You'll be using this as your practice piece. We recommend you start with either practice aluminum sheet metal or practice aluminum foil that we offer! You'll want to get familiar with how hard you need to hit, so use these pieces of metal and foil to practice how deep your stamps will impress the metal. We think its important you practice so you don't mess up your final piece.
Step 3
Choose the stamp you want to start with (make sure it's not upside down!) and stabilize it with your thumb and forefinger. Pick up the hammer and begin striking the top of the stamp. It may take a few strikes to figure out where best to hit the stamp. If the stamp is larger or more detailed, you may need to follow the tilt and tap method to impress all parts of the stamp.
Step 4
When you feel you're ready, pick out a metal stamping blank you'd like to use for your piece. Use your stamping tape to secure the blank in place on the block to avoid moving and double stamping. Follow a similar process to what you did on your aluminum foil or aluminum practice sheet metal. Don't worry if your piece isn't perfect, just like any art, metal stamping takes practice and anyone that metal stamps consistently has a collection of messed-up blanks they use for future practice!
As you practice, you'll learn how and where to hit the stamp and whether you need to hit it once or twice.
Beginning Your Journey Into the World of Metal Stamping
When starting, think small and simple. You'll want to get in a lot of practice before you move on to more complex pieces, so make sure you have enough metal stamping supplies. When shopping for blanks, it can be helpful to purchase larger tags or dedicated practice blanks to help you hone your technique.
Stick to flat surfaces in the beginning. They're easy to mark up and stamp with the design of your choice.
Technique Is Crucial
You want your finished piece to come out impeccable. It's going to take a good amount of practice for you to get your technique down, so don't feel discouraged if your first few projects aren't up to snuff.
You'll get there sooner than you think!
Impact Strength
An important part of your technique involves hitting the stamping blank with the right amount of force. If, after your first attempt, you lift the stamp and notice you've barely made a mark, you probably won't be able to try again on the same piece. Oftentimes it won't be easy to line your stamp back up in your original impression.
Most metals used in metal stamping will need a hard hit for stamping to occur. However, different metals require differing amounts of strength to stamp them.
Aluminum, for example, generally doesn't take as hard of a hit as brass might. As you practice, you'll eventually get a feel for how hard you need to hit each alloy.
Accurate Placement
Believe it or not, a common mistake for new crafters is choosing a design that doesn't fit the blank. It's often helpful to use a pencil and masking tape to mark the exact placement before you stamp.
One trick you can use to improve the accuracy of your placement is to mark out the center and plan as you expand outward.
Working on Projects
All right, you've practiced enough, and you're ready to start working on some actual projects. Start coming up with ideas about what you'd like your finished work to look like. You can also start planning personalized gifts, such as jewelry charms, special date tags, name pendants, and tags for your pets.
Adding Style
Basic stamping may be enough for a while, but most people eventually want to enhance their pieces. As luck would have it, there are several ways you can do that.
Make Your Letters Stand Out
You may have noticed that other metal stamping works have darker, more robust lettering. You can easily create this effect yourself by carefully using a black sharpie to fill in the indentations created after stamping.
Sharpie is the easiest way to make your letters pop, but it can rub off with time. To create something more permanent, you can do so by stamping blank enamel. The enamel will look much more professional and can be a better choice for jewelry or other pieces that see a lot of wear.
Adding Holes
Some metal stamps for jewelry come with holes already punched, but not all of them. You can punch a hole either by purchasing specialized hole-punching tools to stamp the hole yourself or by using hole-punching pliers.
Altering Textures
If you feel like your finished product is a little drab, you can alter the texture using specialized hammers. They can imprint lines, zig-zags, dimples, and more.
Dapping
To create a curved effect on a simple blank, you'll need to get yourself a dapping block. They come with circular daps in varying sizes which allow you to use curved hammers to add an indentation or cupped effect.
If you're worried about ruining your design - don't be! Dapping doesn't affect the design of your stamp.
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