Navigating the metal stamping industry can be a challenge - but keeping on top of its advancements is critical for OEM manufacturers. This year, exciting trends and groundbreaking technologies have been emerging as we push forward into 2023. To help you stay informed and one step ahead, here are five trending developments sure to make an impact.
Electric Vehicle Boom Drives Increased Demand for High-Performance Metal Stamped Components
The surging electric vehicle industry has opened a new world of opportunity for metal stamped components, which are essential to the motor’s performance and overall energy efficiency. These critical components ensure vehicles continue to run smoothly, providing support to the motor, battery pack, and other electrical systems while reducing weight without compromising structural integrity.
Auto manufacturers are leveraging the power of metal stamping to create reliable and long-lasting components for electric vehicles. From parts as small as electrical connectors, all the way up to crucial drivetrain parts, metal stamped pieces enable efficient performance even under extreme conditions. A variety of metals can be used depending on the desired result, from aluminum and steel through copper, brass or other alloys.
As electric vehicles have surged in popularity, so too has the demand for metal stamped busbars to distribute power throughout them. These important components efficiently transmit high levels of current from battery packs and are integral for powering features such as sunroofs, windows, and other interactive parts.
Growing Need for Advanced Lightweight, Strong and Formable Materials
The automotive and manufacturing industry is in a race to make lighter components more resistant to wear and tear. As such, metal stamping companies are ramping up their usage of lightweight but resilient alloys like aluminum, copper, and beryllium copper due to their lightweight densities. This need for advanced materials presents an exciting challenge that requires expert knowledge.
Manufacturing with these materials can be incredibly advantageous. Not only are they light, energy efficient and flexible to work with - but their remarkable ductility makes them perfect for intricate shapes. This, coupled with their long life, make them the ideal choice for a variety of industries.
These alloys are a perfect solution for manufacturers looking to reduce weight without sacrificing performance. These alloys have several advantages over traditional aluminum alloys, including improved strength-to-weight ratios, better fatigue resistance, improved corrosion resistance and excellent formability. In addition, these alloys offer higher thermal conductivity, meaning greater energy efficiency for applications where heat transfer is important.
3D Printing Transforming Manufacturing Processes
3D printing is a remarkable technology that has completely transformed manufacturing, enabling the creation of physical objects from digital models. Using computer-aided design and advanced printers, layers of materials such as plastic, metal or ceramic are deposited to form intricate prototypes and parts for various industries including automotive, aerospace medical and many more.
By combining 3D printing technology with traditional metal stamping methods, manufacturers can now produce complex parts quickly and at a lower cost than traditional tooling techniques, which makes it especially useful for prototyping and small batch production. This is possible due to 3D printing’s ability to eliminate multiple steps for production and reduce the amount of material required for each part. 3D technology also opens entirely new possibilities in terms of product design due to its ability to fabricate parts with intricate geometries and shapes.
Advanced Automation and Robotics Becoming Prevalent
The metal stamping industry is rapidly transforming, with automation becoming an essential part of the process. Companies are utilizing cutting-edge technologies to reduce costs while optimizing efficiency.
- Sensors are being used to automatically detect defects which improves overall part quality.
- Servo presses provide full control of the stroke-profile giving the ability to dramatically slow down the press during the forming portion of the stroke. This helps to produce better quality parts that are not possible using hydraulic or mechanical presses.
- In-die sensors eliminate die crashes, detect flaws in a part, and can detect the presence or absence of features. These sensors can also make adjustments to the part automatically, ensuring parts maintain the required tolerances. This high-level of in-die sensing uses a closed loop approach to monitor and change the monitored feature, eliminating the need to manually check the parts throughout the process.
- Robotics are commonly used at the end of a press for packaging or to perform value-added operations such as welding or assembly of parts or components.
A Focus on Sustainable Manufacturing Practices
The metal stamping industry is embracing sustainable manufacturing practices, allowing them to meet customer and ecological needs while operating with maximum efficiency. Utilizing new strategies that reduce waste output and optimize energy usage ensures a brighter future for everyone involved.
Some of the most popular practices include minimizing scrap production, reusing water, energy-efficient lighting, renewable energy sources such as solar power, recycling materials wherever possible, and optimizing processes for maximum efficiency - including reducing setup times on presses to minimize running machines unnecessarily.
Other strategies include switching to non-toxic, environmentally-friendly lubricants, monitoring machinery air emissions, properly disposing of hazardous waste, and keeping up on safety protocols to ensure workers are protected from dangerous substances.
As the metal stamping industry progresses, it's essential to stay abreast of where things are headed. This five-point look into potential advances offers a peek at what may be on the horizon for this ever-evolving sector.