Stamping Parts Mold Manufacturing

Stamping parts mold manufacturing is the process of creating specialized, high-precision molds (also called dies) used to shape metal materials into stamping parts through pressing, bending, or cutting. These molds are the core tooling in stamping production—their design, material quality, and precision directly determine the accuracy, consistency, and production efficiency of the final stamping parts. This service is essential for industries relying on high-volume stamping, such as automotive, electronics, appliances, and hardware, where thousands to millions of identical parts are needed annually.

The mold manufacturing process begins with detailed design and engineering, tailored to the stamping part’s geometry, material, and production requirements. Engineers use computer-aided design (CAD) software to create 3D models of the mold, considering factors like:

Part complexity: Simple parts (e.g., flat washers) require single-cavity molds, while complex parts (e.g., automotive door hinges with multiple bends) need multi-cavity or progressive molds with multiple stations.

Material properties: Mold designs must account for the metal’s thickness (0.1-6mm), ductility (e.g., aluminum vs. high-strength steel), and springback (the metal’s tendency to rebound after stamping—requiring mold adjustments to ensure the part retains its shape).

Production volume: Low-volume production (10,000-100,000 parts) may use molds made from pre-hardened steel (e.g., P20 steel), while high-volume production (1 million+ parts) requires more durable materials like tool steel (e.g., AISI D2, H13) that resist wear and deformation.

Once the design is finalized, computer-aided manufacturing (CAM) software converts the CAD model into machine code for precision machining equipment. Key machining steps include:

CNC milling: Multi-axis CNC mills shape the mold’s cavity (the area that defines the part’s shape) with tolerances as tight as ±0.005mm. For example, a mold for a smartphone SIM card tray requires CNC milling to create tiny, precise grooves that hold the SIM card.

EDM (Electrical Discharge Machining): Used for complex mold features that are difficult to mill, such as narrow slots or sharp corners. EDM uses electrical sparks to erode the mold material, creating intricate details without physical contact—critical for molds used in precision stamping of electronics components.

Grinding and polishing: The mold’s cavity and surfaces are ground to a smooth finish (Ra 0.4 μm or lower) to prevent the metal sheet from sticking to the mold and to ensure the stamping part has a flawless surface.

Heat treatment: Tool steel molds undergo quenching and tempering to increase hardness (up to 60 HRC) and wear resistance. A mold for stamping automotive fenders (high-volume production) may be heat-treated to 58 HRC, extending its lifespan to 500,000+ stamping cycles.

Assembly and testing are critical final stages. Mold components (e.g., punch, die block, stripper plate, guide pins) are assembled with precision alignment—guide pins ensure the punch and die meet exactly, preventing part defects. The mold is then tested with sample metal sheets to check for:

Dimensional accuracy: Using CMMs to verify that the stamped sample matches the design.

Forming quality: Checking for defects like wrinkles, cracks, or uneven edges.

Production efficiency: Ensuring the mold can operate at the required cycle time (e.g., 20 parts per minute for a hardware bracket).

For example, a mold for stamping 1mm galvanized steel into a washing machine drum bracket would involve:

CAD design of a progressive mold with 5 stations (blanking, piercing, bending, coining, and trimming).

CNC milling of the die cavity to match the bracket’s curved shape.

EDM to create 3mm diameter holes for mounting.

Heat treatment of the tool steel mold to 55 HRC.

Testing with galvanized steel sheets to confirm the bracket’s holes are aligned and edges are smooth.

 stamping parts mold manufacturing is a precision-driven process that lays the foundation for efficient, high-quality stamping production. Its focus on design optimization, durable materials, and rigorous testing ensures molds can consistently produce parts that meet the most demanding industry standards.

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