Types Of Dies In Sheet Metal, Die Construction, Tool Making And Tool Engineering

Hi friends in the previous post we have discussed types of tool die operations. This post is about types of dies used in the manufacturing industry for sheet metal components. In which the function of dies and differences between these dies are mentioned.

Sheet Metal Stamping Dies

Stamping dies are used to produce the high volume production by stamping process. The die will have the ability to provide appropriate stamping force to perform the required operation. In the die there will be two parts, upper half and the lower half. These part can also be referred as male part and female part. Male or female parts can take either the upper position or the lower position. 

Construction of dies

In a tool, the punches of respective operations like blanking and punching is at the ram or at the bed of the plate. The ram will bolted with the bed of the machine.
For example, the figure of bending tool is given. The tool will rest on the bed of tool. And ram part will press the sheet metal component to produce a bend. 

Bending press tool

Types Of Dies

The different types of dies are given below. The difference between them is important to understand.

Simple Dies

Dies which can perform only one operation in one stroke by press are known as simple dies. This operation can be either cutting operation or forming operation.

Combination Die

These dies are also able to perform more than one operation at one machine station. Since compound die can perform only cutting operation, this die can perform bending or drawing operation along with cutting operations. Because of these properties in the die it is called combination die. For example, to produce a cup shaped component the combination die can be used for blanking punching and drawing simultaneously. 

Compound Die

Compound dies are those in which more than one operations can be performed by one stroke of press at a single station. Basically these types of dies are cutting tools. In such dies only cutting operations can be performed. For example a washer can be pressed out by performing blanking and piercing operation at the same station. These type of dies are very accurate than dies of single operation. Mass production by these dies is more economical than single operation die.

Progressive Dies or follow Dies

Die which can perform series of operations is called progressive or follow die. The operation is performed at each station on a work piece during a stroke of press. The work piece is transferred to the next station between the strokes. In every stroke a finished work is completed. For example, if piercing is done on a part in one stroke, the blanking punch tool cut a blank in the metal in which the previous hole is pierced at previous station. That is why after the first stroke, when thw hole will be punched, the finished product will be produced by each stroke of press.

Transfer Dies

In the transfer dies, the metal work piece do not fed progressively from one to another work station, as in the progressive dies. But in these type of dies the already blanked out work-piece is fed mechanically from one station to another station.

Multiple Dies Or Gang Dies

Multiple dies are those which has the ability to produce more than one work pieces in a single stoke of the press. This is also called Gang Dies.  In this die the number of simple dies and punches are combined or ganged together so that it can produced more than one parts at each stroke of the press.

Inverted Dies

In other dies, the punching tool is held in the punch holder plate which is fastened to the ram. On the other side, the die is fitted with die holder which is fastened at the bed of press. In the inverted dies there is a difference. The places of punch and die are interchanged. In this the punch if fastened at the bed of press and die is attached with the ram.

Difference between progressive die, combination die and compound die

Compound die performs one or more operation simultaneously while progressive die performs series of operations and combination die performs two or more operations at one station. Compound die only performs cutting operations and combination dies can perform other operations like bending, drawing etc.