One of the biggest goals for any manufacturer-customer relationship is to work together to create a high-quality, long-lasting product.
For manufacturers like Winco Stamping, that means creating custom precision metal stamping parts. Collaboration is the central tenet when crafting custom precision parts, as we work with our customers during every aspect of the manufacturing process.
Start the collaboration process early with our how-to guide on achieving custom precision metal stamping parts, maximizing pre-manufacturing steps to streamline production, and getting your parts to market faster.
Custom Precision Metal Stamping Parts Start With Design for Manufacturability
Like with any other manufacturing process, it all starts with the design phase. And for metal stamped parts, that means incorporating design for manufacturability. As it relates to metal stamping, key aspects of DFM have to incorporate considerations for bend radii, hole placement, wall heights, tolerances throughout the design, and feature count. This is best done as soon as possible to avoid unnecessary complexity and excess material scrap.
When in doubt during a DFM review, keep this consideration in mind: combine features, standardize dimensions, and avoid details that would require extra operations unless it is essential to part functionality.
Material Selection Review and Part Thickness
Material selection goes hand-in-hand with DFM practices. The properties of a chosen material determine how your parts will function in their intended environment more than design does in practice.
When selecting materials, they should match the part’s required strength, conductivity, corrosion resistance, and formability. Working with your manufacturer’s engineering team can serve as a guide to selecting the proper materials. Thickness principles should adhere to the stamping method chosen and press capabilities of your manufacturer.
If there are tight tolerances in your part or the overall tolerance is tight, material consistency is just as important as material type.
Tooling Considerations
One of the biggest conversations regarding custom precision metal stamping parts surrounds tooling. Tooling for standard operations brings a hefty cost, and that amount just increases with a custom project. But, if there are key factors in your project where you know tooling costs will be worth it, such as high-volume production or easily repeatable or minimal design changes, tooling can further extend the program life for your custom parts.
Quality Management
Part of trusting a manufacturer with your custom metal stamped parts means vetting their quality management practices.
An initial way to determine quality management with a given manufacturing company is by viewing any certifications related to QMS, such as an ISO 9001 certification. ISO is a globally recognized group that awards certifications when manufacturers have provided documentation that covers their entire quality management operation, including:
- Operational procedures
- Testing and validation operations
- Material sourcing
- Maintenance programs
Additionally, asking questions during initial consultations about quality management is encouraged.
Partner With Winco Stamping for Custom Precision Metal Stamping Parts
Winco Stamping is an industry-leading custom metal stamping manufacturer, serving the entirety of the United States and expanding to reach a global audience. When we first started metal stamping in 1948, our number one priority was to create a different experience for our customers, and we maintain that priority to this day.
We perform numerous custom operations in our specialized low to medium stamping volumes, but also with our progressive tooling and die operations, which are capable of creating millions of parts. No matter how complex the operation is, our quality management practices, which are ISO 9001 certified, are in place to ensure a smooth, streamlined process.
Contact us today for your custom precision metal stamping parts and discover how Winco can best serve your needs.
