Sheet metal press work

Press work turns flat sheet into parts using power presses and dies: brackets, washers, clips, covers, cups and enclosures. Once the tool is ready, parts come off the press quickly and identically, which makes it the economical choice for volume.

Stamping uses blanking, piercing and forming dies, or a progressive die that does several steps in one stroke. Deep drawing makes cups, shells and housings. CNC turret punching and press-brake bending make sheet parts with less tooling, which suits smaller batches.

Parts are often deburred and then plated, powder coated or painted. Some press shops also make their own tools; others work with a tool room.

Materials commonly used

• CRCA and HR mild steel sheet
• Galvanised (GI/GP) sheet
• Stainless steel such as 304 and 430
• Aluminium, brass and copper sheet
• Spring steel for clips

What to send with your requirement

• A drawing with sheet thickness, bend details and tolerances, and a DXF of the flat part if you have one
• The sheet material and grade
• The quantity per order and per year
• Whether tools exist already or must be made, and who owns them
• The finish needed after pressing

What affects the cost

• Tooling: a progressive die costs more but makes parts faster and cheaper per piece
• Sheet material, thickness and the weight of each part
• Press tonnage and speed needed
• Secondary work: tapping, welding, deburring and finishing
• Quantity per batch, since setup is spread across it

Common mistakes to avoid

• Making a press tool for a quantity that turret punching or laser cutting would handle more cheaply
• Leaving out sheet thickness, grade or bend radius
• Specifying tight tolerances that the sheet and process cannot hold
• Not agreeing on tool ownership and maintenance

Frequently asked questions

Should I make a press tool or use laser cutting?

For small batches and prototypes, laser cutting and press-brake bending need little tooling. As the quantity grows, a press tool usually brings the cost per part down. A workshop can compare both for your quantity.

What is deep drawing?

Forming flat sheet into a cup or box shape that is deep compared with its width, like a motor housing or a vessel. It needs drawing dies and a suitable material.

Who makes the dies?

Some press shops have their own tool room; others work with a die maker. You can also post the die as a separate requirement under press tool and die making.