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10-06-2021
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Rompa Group under pressure
Rompa Group is under pressure, 80 tons to be exact and it’s fully automated. In this week’s article we tell you more about a technology we offer, called metal stamping. We explain more about the basics of metal stamping, what types of metal stamping there are and what Rompa Group offers their clients by using this technology.
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What is metal stamping?
How do you transform a sheet of metal into a particular shape without heating it up? That's right, metal stamping! Also known as pressing, it´s an ideal technology for fast production of metal shapes with high accuracy. This automated process bends and cuts any desired shape from a ‘blank’ metal sheet.
There are many ways to transform ore into a desired metal piece with a particular shape. Ever since this transition was figured out, man tried to come up with ways to improve the process. The method of metal stamping is considered modern even though it has been used by manufacturers for over a century. But the concept of stamping metal actually dates way further back. It actually started when the first coins were made. Two images were created, one for each side of the coin. With a heavy hammer they struck the metal part into the image. Eventually human power got replaced by heavy duty machinery, this opened the door to creating the types of metal pressing as we know today.
Where is metal stamping used? In almost all households a product or piece can be found that was made through metal stamping. It is such a commonly used technology, not only for many household appliances but also in the automotive, medical, electronic and military sectors.
How does metal stamping work?
How to start metal stamping? In order to kick off the metal stamping process, we always start with a proper design. This design is made by our engineers with the help of a tooling system. They make the design to a high precision so that with each punch the metal sheet gets bent in the most optimal way. Preparation is the most important step of the production process. Metal stamping is not hard, when the design is done correctly the fabrication process will follow. Hence the importance of the design up front. Rompa Group is lucky to have such great in-house engineers with many years of experience and with whom nothing is impossible. A single design can contain many intricate parts, so this first process can be complex and time-consuming. After this step is done we can start the manufacturing process.
Metal stamping starts with a flat metal sheet that is placed into the stamping press. This press consists of a tool and die surface that form the metal.
There are several types of metal stamping and forming techniques:
- Punching and blanking is a technique using a custom made die to cut the material. Punching is used, for example, to make holes in the sheet. It’s called blanking when we remove a workpiece from the sheets and the removed item is the desired piece.
- Another way of metal stamping is the bending technique. Think of shapes such as U or L Coining is the technique Rompa Group uses most, it allows us to place the workpiece between the press and custom made die.
- Embossing is used when we want a raised design from the metal sheet. Flanging is a stamping method to turn edges upright at a certain angle.
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The pro’s and con’s
The main advantages to metal stamping are the fast production cycles we can offer and the fully automated process. These advantages make it cost-efficient as there are less hours of labor necessary. Beside the quick cycles, the product that is produced is very precise making it ideal for complex parts.
One of the disadvantages of metal stamping could be the dies that must be created for producing custom metal objects. There is not a lot of flexibility once the dies are produced, because these dies are difficult to adjust if the design changes along the way. If necessary, there are alternative solutions or technologies available.
Rompa Group presses your desired metal shape
Rompa Group became a larger family after the merger with ITB Precision Technique a couple of years back. Ever since Rompa continued as Rompa Group our goal is to become one complete family. When we combined ITB and Rompa we combined new technologies and production possibilities such as the metal stamping technology. By combining top engineers and tools from both companies we were able to take metal stamping to a higher level. Our experts are enthusiastic to tell you all about it! So, if metal stamping is a solution for your idea, do not hesitate to contact us for more information.