Classification of Sheet Metal Dies

• Sheet metal dies are generally classified into four main categories:
• Punching & Blanking Dies
• Bending Dies
• Drawing Dies
• Spinning Dies

Drawing Dies

Drawing is the process of gradually forming sheet metal into the required geometric shape using a suitable punch. Depending on the application, the material is stretched through one or more forming stages until the desired shape is achieved.

Punching & Blanking Dies

Blanking is the process of separating sheet metal or other flat semi-finished materials along a straight line or a predefined geometric contour. Punching and blanking dies are the most commonly used types of sheet metal tooling. Their construction is determined by the cutting process itself, which can be performed using different mechanisms and techniques.

Common Cutting Methods:

• Open Cutting
• Closed (Conventional) Cutting

These methods also define the primary categories of cutting dies.

Spinning Dies

Metal spinning is a manufacturing process used to produce seamless cylindrical, conical, hemispherical, or spherical components from sheet metal materials.

Depending on the forming operation, bending dies can be classified as follows:

• Bending
• Edge Bending
• Folding and Hemming
• Curling
• Offset (Jog) Bending