DEEP DRAW STAMPING: POWER AND PRECISION

What Is It | Why Wedge | Process | Methods | Benefits | Industries | Additional Info | Wedge History

Deep drawn stamping is a metal forming process that shapes flat sheet metal into seamless, hollow components with depths greater than their diameter. This specialized technique is essential for industries requiring precision, durability, and cost-effective manufacturing. The process produces strong, lightweight parts used in various applications, from aerospace fuel housings to automotive engine components.

What makes deep drawn stamping unique is its ability to form complex shapes without seams or joints. This ensures parts are both watertight and structurally sound, reducing the need for secondary welding or assembly. With high-speed production capabilities and minimal material waste, deep drawing offers efficiency while maintaining tight tolerances across large production runs.

With Wedge Products, we have honed our expertise over decades. With advanced presses and a commitment to customer satisfaction, we deliver high-quality components for industries ranging from aerospace to electronics. For businesses looking to optimize performance and efficiency, deep drawn stamping is a dependable solution.

1. Securing the Metal Blank: A flat sheet of metal—called a blank—is placed into the die, ensuring precise alignment to prevent defects.


2. Applying Punch Force: A punch presses the blank into the die cavity, stretching the metal to create the foundation of the component’s shape.


3. Shaping the Component: As the metal flows into the die, it forms a seamless, hollow structure, such as a cylinder or enclosure, without the need for welding.


4. Managing Precision Factors: Key variables—like punch speed, lubrication, and pressure—are carefully monitored to maintain tight tolerances and a smooth surface.


5. Multiple Draws for Complex Parts: For intricate shapes, the part may go through multiple stages of re-drawing. Progressive dies allow these steps to occur efficiently in sequence.


6. Quality Inspection and Final Check: Each part undergoes thorough inspection to ensure it meets required specifications. Wedge Products guarantees every component performs reliably.

• Beading: Displacing the material to create smaller or larger diameters than the part’s original diameter.


• Bulging: Forcing part of the components diameter to extend from the original shape.


• Coining: Displacing the material for the formation of specific shapes in the component.


• Curling: Rolling metal under a curling die to form a rolled edge. Extruding: Once a pilot hole is created, a punch with a large diameter pushes through and causes the metal to increase in length.


• Ironing: Thinning the walls of the components.


• Necking: Reducing a section of the component to a smaller diameter than the rest of the part.


• Notching: Cutting a notch into the open end of the part with a round, square or other shape.


• Rib Forming: During the drawing process, rib forming creates an outward or inward protruding rib on the part.


• Side Piercing: Piercing holes in the sidewall of the draw component. Shape depends on the component’s specifications.


• Stamping: Most commonly used to add identification to the part such as a supplier name or product number.


• Threading: Forming threads into the component with a wheel and arbor.


• Trimming: Cutting away metal that was necessary for drawing the part from the finished component.

• Seamless Construction: Parts are created without seams, eliminating the need for welding and enhancing structural integrity.


• High-Speed Production: Progressive and transfer dies allow multiple operations simultaneously, meeting high-volume demands efficiently.


• Cost-Effective Manufacturing: Durable dies reduce tooling costs, and minimal material waste lowers production expenses.


• Material Strength and Integrity: The drawing process aligns the metal’s grain structure, resulting in stronger, stress-resistant parts.


• Versatile Material Options: Wedge Products uses metals like stainless steel, aluminum, copper, and brass to meet diverse industry needs:


• Stainless steel offers corrosion resistance, ideal for aerospace and medical uses.


• Aluminum provides lightweight strength for automotive components.


• Copper ensures excellent conductivity for electrical applications.


• Brass is wear-resistant, suitable for decorative or plumbing parts.


• This flexibility ensures industries can select materials that align with specific performance goals, whether durability, corrosion resistance, or weight reduction.

Industry	Applications	Benefits of Deep Drawing
Aerospace	Fuel system housings, enclosures, engine parts	Lightweight, seamless, high-strength components
Automotive	Engine brackets, pressure vessels, structural parts	Cost-efficient high-volume production, durable designs
Electronics	Battery housings, custom enclosures, connectors	Compact, dustproof, and impact-resistant components
Medical	Surgical instruments, device enclosures, medical tools	Precision components, corrosion-resistant materials
Industrial	HVAC parts, plumbing components, appliance fittings	Reliable, long-lasting parts for demanding environments

Deep Drawing vs Stamping

Deep drawing is similar to stamping, as both processes are used to shape and form sheets as needed. The main difference between deep drawing versus stamping is the tools that are needed.

Stamping:

The tools used are designed to fracture a sheet into a shape. However, these tools are limited in that they cannot create deformation. Drawing tools are used for deformation which means that they are radiused, while stamping tools are known to have sharper edges.

Drawing:

The tools used for deep draw stamping clamp the outer edge of the blank in place while the center is deformed. Drawing tools also have a greater punch-to-die clearance than those used in metal stamping.

Deep Draw Stamping FAQs

What Is Deep Drawn Stamping?

Deep drawn stamping is another name for deep draw stamping.

How Accurate Is Deep Drawing?

Deep drawing can achieve high accuracy, depending on several key factors. The quality of tooling, including the precision of dies and punches, is crucial for shaping metal accurately without distortions. Material properties, such as ductility and thickness, also impact precision, as does the use of proper lubrication to reduce friction and avoid defects.

What Are Deep Draw Stamping Design Guidelines?

Critical factors include selecting the right material type and thickness, managing blank size and shape, controlling die entry radii, and optimizing draw ratios. Proper press speed, die surface finish, lubrication, and precise binder pressure also play essential roles in achieving consistent, high-quality results. These deep draw stamping design guidelines provide a solid foundation for creating durable, precision deep-drawn parts and minimizing costly production errors.

What Is The Deep Draw Stamping Process?

The deep draw stamping process 5 steps approach includes thorough design review, selecting the appropriate press, 3D prototyping, and precise equipment setup, all leading to the deep draw itself. Engineers evaluate part dimensions and materials, a press is chosen for optimal force, and a virtual prototype tests the design.

What Is The Difference Between Deep Drawing vs Stamping?

Understanding the distinction between deep drawing and stamping is essential for selecting the right metal forming process for your project. Deep drawing excels in crafting seamless, hollow shapes, like fuel tanks or kitchen sinks, through a gradual, multistage process, making it ideal for parts requiring high precision and durability.

Stamping, on the other hand, focuses on speed and versatility, shaping flat or slightly contoured parts such as brackets or panels through techniques like blanking and embossing. Both processes are indispensable across industries like automotive and aerospace, with the choice ultimately hinging on factors like material type, shape complexity, and production goals.

Operating since 1933, Wedge has built a reputation for delivering high-quality components on time and at competitive prices. With a 110,000-square-foot facility and over 64 presses, they efficiently handle both low- and high-volume projects.

Certified to AS9100-D for aerospace metal stamping, Wedge delivers reliable, high-performance parts with precision and care. If you are looking for a partner that offers innovative stamping solutions and outstanding customer service, Wedge Products is ready to help bring your next project to life.