How Thomas Engineering Company Uses Progressive Metal Stamping in Minneapolis, MN

November 17th, 2015 · 1 Comment

Metal stamping technology has come a long way since early stamping machines, tooling dies, and other methods of assembly. In the late 19th century, early forms of progressive stamping known as successive gang cutting were introduced into the metal stamping industry. Since then, the progressive stamping press has grown into what we use today at Thomas Engineering Company for our precision metal stamping in Minneapolis, MN.

The progressive stamping press grew rapidly out of necessity during the turn of the century and even more during the World Wars. By the 1970s, the Society of Manufacturing Engineers (SME) branch in Grand Rapids, MI began promoting the designs of Ed Stouten and Arnold Miedema, partners of the Capitol Engineering Company.

 What it does:

Progressive metal stamping evolved from necessity; because, it’s one of the most efficient ways of streamlining the metal stamping process. A single progressive stamping press can eliminate the need for large quantities of single press and die machines. Our progressive stamping systems cover cutting, bending, flanging, blanking, and slotting operations. Progressive stamping presses offer rapid production of high quality parts, which saves our customers both time and money.

How it works:

Our progressive stamping production works by feeding a strip blank into the press, with each station performing a different single cut or other operation.  Each section of the blank is altered in an exact process, as each section is moved along with rapid precision in the stamping tool. To maintain such precise advancement from station to station, “pilot” pieces shaped like bullets or cones enter pre-made holes along the blank strip. These pilots lock the blank into the exact place before each station performs its operation.

The metal stamping industry would not be where it is today if not for Stouten and Miedema. These men’s contributions to the industry have vastly enhanced the stamping process, especially in terms of our precision metal stamping in Minneapolis, MN. Take advantage of progressive stamping production and contact us at Thomas Engineering Company today.

Tags: Metal Stamping ·


 

One response to “How Thomas Engineering Company Uses Progressive Metal Stamping in Minneapolis, MN”

  1. The information about how metal stamping works was really interesting. I didn’t know that pilot pieces that are shaped like bullets are used to help maintain advancement from one station to the next by locking the blank into place. I was wondering about how that process was made to be so precise, so it’s really good to know that pilot pieces play a huge roll with metal stamping.

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