Sheet metal cutting is one of the fundamental operations performed in metal stamping dies, along with forming operations like bending, drawing, etc. Some common sheet metal cutting processes used in stamping include:
1. Blanking
Blanking is the process of cutting the outer profile or shape of a part from a sheet metal strip or coil.
The resulting piece is called a blank, which may be the final part or undergo further forming operations.
2. Piercing/Punching
Piercing creates holes within the sheet metal blank by forcing a punch through the material into a die cavity
This is done for features like clearance holes, lightening holes, etc.
3. Trimming
Trimming cuts away the outer edge or perimeter of a formed part to give it the final desired shape and dimensions.
The excess material trimmed off is called the addendum or offal.
4. Notching
Notching cuts the outer edges of a sheet metal strip or coil to create the initial blank shape before forming
5. Shearing
Shearing slices or cuts the sheet metal along a straight line, often used to create square or rectangular blanks.
6. Lancing
Lancing slits or cuts the sheet metal without completely separating it, often used to create features like part carriers or stretch webs