Die Types

There is a wide dictionary of terms used to classify dies, some broader than
others. At the highest level, dies can be separated by their function of either
cutting or forming the stock material. Any die that removes, cuts, or shears
material can be called a cutting die, regardless of its mechanism, while a die
that doesn’t remove anything is a forming die. 

This classification is a bit of an oversimplification, as some dies do combine

cutting and forming functions. It’s also possible to go further with these types
of groupings—considering coining dies separate from forming ones, for
instance—but those distinctions are based on the process itself and can be
seen as somewhat redundant. 

Another useful way to classify dies is to consider what happens with each
stroke of the press as a portion of the whole tooling process.

Read blog: Progressive Die vs. Transfer Die vs. Compound Die

Stamping

Simple Dies
A simple die, as its name suggests, only performs one cutting or forming
action per stroke. These specialized machines can be cost-effective for simple
designs, but they are far less efficient where multiple forming actions are
necessary.

Compound Dies
Compound dies are designed so that a single stroke accomplishes multiple
cutting and forming actions. Although combining operations can slow down
the stroke, compound dies are more efficient over the course of the tool
manufacturing process and minimize the chance of errors when transferring a
workpiece between multiple stations.  These dies are generally less costly
than progressive dies.

Progressive Dies
Progressive dies offer one of the most efficient methods of accomplishing
multiple operations on a single blank. Rather than performing operations
simultaneously, however, the modifications occur at separate stations as a
feeding mechanism continuously pushes metal into the die. 

In this
way, each stroke initiates multiple cutting or forming actions, but they are
applied to different segments of the workpiece—each of which will become its
own finished component. The final station removes a finished component from
the longer workpiece, meaning that each stroke yields one or more parts even
as others are in process.

Transfer Dies
Transfer dies resemble progressive dies, but they begin with pre-cut blanks
that must be mechanically transferred between stations rather than using one
continuously-fed strip of metal. Conveyor belts or transfer fingers often
provide the transfer action. A transfer die allows for heightened efficiency
even when working with larger parts or more complex parts that aren’t
compatible with progressive die cutting.

Multiple Dies
A gang press or multiple die press is unique in that it creates multiple
components with every stroke of the press. Typically, this requires several
identical dies to be linked to the same control mechanism so that they can
operate in sync with one another.