Deep drawing is one of the most commonly used metal forming techniques. It is used by numerous sectors, including the automotive, medical, manufacturing, and aerospace industries, to create various parts and complex shapes from metal sheets.
The deep drawing process begins by placing a flat piece of sheet metal on a forming die. The workpiece is then held in place via a compressive force exerted by a blank holder, which controls the sliding of the metal sheet during the drawing process.
The punching tool then moves down to the workpiece, causing it to deform. The metal flows into the die cavity to create the final shape, which is typically hollow and open on one side. The term “deep drawing” refers to the shapes produced by this method, as they often have depths that exceed their diameter.
Typical Components Created by Deep Drawing
Due to the punching nature of the drawing tool, deep drawing is best suited for hollow cylindrical or box-shaped objects. Shapes with straight, tapered, or curved sides can be produced, based on the type of punching tool.
The versatility of the deep drawing process can be utilized to create products ranging from everyday household items such as aluminum cans, kitchen sinks, and baking pans, to industrial components such as fire extinguishers, automotive parts, and plumbing fixtures. This forming method is used in any application that requires that mass manufacture of metal products with hollow axisymmetric geometries.
Deep Drawn Stamping in the Automotive Industry
The automotive industry is well known for its heavy reliance on deep drawn stamping services to create various automobile parts and components. This industry maintains a constant demand for components that are high-strength and leak resistant. Deep drawn automotive components benefit from strain hardening during the molding process, and as such, are ideal for automotive uses.
Strain hardening increases the strength properties of the metal, which makes it more durable in harsh automotive applications. Also, since deep drawn parts are created from a single sheet of metal, the final component contains no seams, which can be susceptible to leaks.
Some common deep drawn auto parts include:
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Exhaust mufflers
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Engine mounts
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Body mounts
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Jounce bumpers
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Pins and connectors
Deep Drawn Stamping in the Medical Industry
Medical equipment and instruments have evolved significantly over the years. Medical advancements and stricter regulations have called for accurately crafted tools that are more reliable, precise, and sanitary. The repeatable accuracy and seamless nature of deep drawn stamping technology make it ideal for manufacturing medical tools with intricate dimensions and tight tolerances.
Deep drawn methods also work with a wide range of steel alloys that are preferred for sanitation and biocompatibility applications. Furthermore, advanced die and tooling shapes can accommodate complex designs, allowing for greater versatility.
Deep drawn stamping is typically used in the medical industry to manufacture the following:
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Syringes
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Insulin delivery devices
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Pacemakers
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Temperature sensing probe covers
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Dental laser surgical devices
Deep drawn stamping is one of the most precise metal forming technologies available and is capable of meeting some of the strictest client budgetary and time constraints. These attributes make deep drawing ideal for the automotive and medical industries, where high production volumes are required without compromising on safety, quality, and accuracy.
Resources:
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https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/materials-science/deep-drawing
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https://www.thomasnet.com/articles/custom-manufacturing-fabricating/deep-drawing
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https://www.thefabricator.com/article/stamping/die-science-deep-drawing-step-by-step
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https://www.hudson-technologies.com/top-materials-for-deep-drawn-medical-components/
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