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What's A Stamping Press?
Its main function is to provide enough power to open and close the die set. The die set shapes (or cuts) the metal part set. That metal part is then fed into the die block and the ram descends, producing the desired shape. The press uses that energy to construct the part. This is done (ideally) without producing a large amount or possibly no waste (scrap materials) at all. Presses range in size—from small bench top presses that generate as little as five tons to larger presses that can form geometric shapes rated in thousands of tons.

Types
Presses are either mechanical or hydraulic. Both have different types of frames, which embrace the moving parts of the press. The Society of Manufacturing Engineers states the two most common types of frames as the "C" frame and "straight side press." The "C" type press is accessible on three sides. It's less costly and takes up less floor space. The straight side press, on the other hand, has vertical columns on each side—a setup that eliminates angular deflection.

What's important in the selection process? SME considers the force capacity (or force that can be exerted at a specified point in a stroke) as an important feature take into account. While mechanical presses are still the most common type of press, hydraulic presses have the advantage of delivering "full force" at any point during stroke. It can also be adjusted to facilitate part clearance between cycle, making it possible for press operators to use several different tool and die heights.

Challenges
Stamping Presses, whether mechanical or hydraulic, must be flexible and provide quick running speed and changeover time to compete in today's stamping industry. Manufacturers are constantly striving to enhance the design of stamping presses to provide safe working conditions and improve quality, enabling their presses provide reliable cost efficient parts.

Yamada Dobby has been designing and developing precision stamping presses since 1961. They manufacture both straight side and gap stamping presses. Presses range from 5 to 800-ton capacities and have speeds reaching as high as 4,000 spm. Yamada Dobby's NXT-Press Series incorporates Double Link Motion, which is a feature that can increase the accuracy and die life of your stamping equipment.

Stress is trapped during the stamping process, spring occurs and parts become distorted. The NXT Double Link Motion Press reduces this spring back by providing additional time for the slide to enter, pass through and exit the material. This design concept married to the press" rigid cast iron construction reduces vibration by almost 100 percent.

Plainfield Stamping's (Plainfield, Illinois) operations are primarily in the automotive industry. The company decided to upgrade to a new high speed stamping press after entering into an automotive-connector program.

Tekmatex, Inc. (Charlotte, NC) supplied Plainfield Stamping with a stamping press from the Yamada Dobby NXT-Press Series. "Dies in our previous stamping presses produced quality parts at 500 SPM with 500,000 hits between sharpening. These same dies, when placed in our Yamada Dobby NXT series are producing quality parts at speeds up 1,000 SPM," says Mike Rathburn, Plainfield Stamping plant manager.

Rathburn has 32 years of experience in the stamping industry and he knows that there's a lot involved in finding the right press. "Increased production, operator satisfaction, and competitive pricing were all keys in our decision to purchase our second Yamada Dobby press," says Rathburn.

In addition to quality and speed requirements that operators demand, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration enforce strict ergonomic regulations forcing OEMs to find ways to improve worker safety. Many OEM's are now finding ways to incorporate protection into their existing machines to ensure that equipment conforms to safety standards.