This technical information has been contributed by
Proshort Stamping Services, Inc.
Click on Company Name for a Detailed Profile

Sheet Metal Prototypes and General Machining

Using metallic and nonmetallic sheet materials, prototypes, short-run production and service parts can be made from stock 0.003" to 0.250". Materials processed are aluminum, beryllium, copper, brass, bronze, all steels and alloys, stainless steel, plastic, cork, PC board, fiber and other nonmetallic stock.

The types of parts made are candidates for progressive die operations such as housings or bracket clips. Typical applications provide proofing components to test a design before investment in expensive tooling.

The normal order is usually 2,000 parts; an order up to 10,000 parts constitutes the largest order. The basic process involves making a flat blank on a stamping press or by laser cutting. The blank is then formed on a press brake.

Some of the equipment used in these manufacturing operations are CNC hydraulically operated Baltec production workstations, Swiss-made hydraulic presses (28-ton rating), Komatsu press brakes (55-ton rating) and 1500-W Amada lasers. A practical operating speed for the lasers is 200 ipm.