Metal stamping could easily be deemed as one of the most overlooked and undervalued industrial processes. Just about every metal component that is integrated into a product is stamped in some way or fashion. Therefore, you would be hard-pressed to find an industrial setup or manufacturing setup that does not have some kind of metal stamping equipment. Even though most people assume that metal stamping is done in only one way, there are actually several different types of metal stamping processes. Here is a look at four of the primary types of metal stamping processes you should get to know. 

Metal Piercing

Piercing involves the use of dense and sharp punches to cut holes through pieces of metal. Piercing is often used to create things like vehicle parts and electronic components that must have slots or holes to accommodate other fixtures. Metal piercing is most often done by specifically built equipment, but it can also be done by hand using small piercing tools. 

Metal Air Stamping

Stamping a piece of metal using high-pressure air is another common form of metal stamping. However, because of the limitations of the air to actually change the surface of the metal, air pressure is usually only used in processes that involve thinner or softer types of metal. For example, a sheet of copper or aluminum may be stamped with an air stamping machine. 

Metal Lancing

Perhaps one of the lesser known types of metal stamping, lancing is usually used on metal pieces that need thin ventilation slots to accommodate airflow or allow heat out. During this process, a series of lines are lanced into a sheet of metal using a rolling lancing machine that has a series of blades that cut through the metal in a precise pattern. 

Heat Stamping

In some metalwork applications, heat is used to embed a design into the metal. High levels of heat can alter the shape of some types of metal, specifically stainless steel and some alloys. For heat stamping, a die is used with a specific cutout or shape. It is heated to a high temperature and pressed directly and firmly only the metal that is secured on a flat surface. 

When you take a closer look, metal stamping is actually a really interesting industrial process that involves many different methods. If you would like to know more, contact a metal stamping company like Precision Stamping for further education.