CH # 06 Tool Design

DESIGN OF CUTTING DIES

Die Cutting Operations:

There are many die-cutting operations, some of which are very complex;
they can all be reduced to the following simple fundamentals.

Plane blanking:
Plane blanking is a simple operation. The material used is called the stock and
generally a ferrous or nonferrous strip. During the working stroke the punch goes through
the material and on the return stroke the material is lifted with the punch and is removed
by the stripper plate. The stop pin is a gage for the operator. In practice, he feeds the
stock by hand and locates the holes to be punched. The part that is removed from the strip
is always the work piece in a blanking operation. Subsequent press working operations
may be performed on the blank.

Piercing:
This operation consists of simple hole punching. It differs from blanking in that
the punching is the scrap and the strip is the work piece.

Cutting off and parting:

A cut-off operation separates the work material along a straight line in a single-
line cut. When the operation separates the work material along a straight-line cut in a
double-line cut, it is known as parting off and parting operation are used to separate the
work piece from the scrap strip. Cutting off and parting usually occur in the final stages
of a progressive die.

Notching:
This operation removes metal from either or both edges of the strip. Notching
serves to shape the outer contours of the work piece in a progressive die or to remove
excess metal before a drawing or forming operation in a progressive die.

Shaving:
Shaving is a secondary operation, usually following punching, in which the
surface of the previously cut edge is finished smoothly to accurate dimensions. The
excess metal is removed much as a chip is formed with a metal cutting tool. There is very
little clearance between the punch and die and only a thin section of the edge is removed
from the edge of the work piece.

Trimming:
This operation removes the distorted excess metal from drawn shapes and also
provides a smooth edge.

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