When is stamping cheaper than laser cutting?

Once the quantity is large enough to pay for the press tool, usually from a few thousand parts upward; below that, laser cutting is often cheaper overall.

What is a progressive tool?

A press tool with several stations: the strip moves forward each stroke and each station does one operation, so a finished part drops out every stroke.

Who owns the press tool?

Usually the buyer who pays for it; the workshop keeps it to run your orders. Agree ownership and maintenance in writing before the tool is made.

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Sheet metal stamping (press work)

Also called: press work, press job work, sheet metal pressing, stamping parts, blanking and piercing, progressive die stamping

Sheet metal stamping (press work) makes parts from sheet or strip in a power press fitted with a press tool. Once the tool is made, each part takes a stroke, so it is the cheapest way to make sheet parts in large numbers: washers, brackets, clips, panels and covers.

Quick facts

Machines: Power press, hydraulic press, press brake
Operations: Blanking, piercing, bending, forming, drawing, embossing
Tooling: A press tool (die) made for each part
Best for: Thousands to millions of parts
Typical accuracy: About ±0.05–0.1 mm, depending on the tool
Usually priced: Tool cost once, then per piece

Kinds of press tools

Blanking and piercing tools: cut the outline and holes
Compound tools: blank and pierce in one stroke, very flat parts
Progressive tools: the strip moves through several stations, one finished part every stroke
Bending and forming tools
Draw tools: cups and shells

Stamping or laser cutting?

	Stamping	Laser cutting
Tooling	Press tool needed	None
Cost per part	Very low in volume	Higher, steady
Best quantity	Thousands and up	One to a few thousand
Design changes	Tool must be modified	Change the file

What decides the price

Tool cost: size, number of stations, tool steel
Material: grade, thickness and how much of the strip is wasted
Press time per part
Secondary work: deburring, tapping, plating
Quantity, which spreads the tool cost

What to send

Drawing (PDF) and 3D model or DXF
Material grade and thickness
Expected annual quantity (decides the type of tool)
Tolerances and burr direction if important
Who will own the tool

Need sheet metal stamping (press work) done?

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Related job work

Machines

Materials

Questions

When is stamping cheaper than laser cutting?: Once the quantity is large enough to pay for the press tool, usually from a few thousand parts upward; below that, laser cutting is often cheaper overall.
What is a progressive tool?: A press tool with several stations: the strip moves forward each stroke and each station does one operation, so a finished part drops out every stroke.
Who owns the press tool?: Usually the buyer who pays for it; the workshop keeps it to run your orders. Agree ownership and maintenance in writing before the tool is made.

The figures on this page are typical values for guidance, written by Diemeco from standard engineering practice. They are not a specification: confirm grades and properties with the relevant standard or the supplier's mill test certificate, and tolerances with your workshop. Last checked 8 October 2026.