Automotive manufacturers and their suppliers can see significant reductions in piece prices by working with metal stamping engineers to determine whether parts made with more expensive processes can be converted to metal stampings. With constant pressure on automotive OEMs and their suppliers to reduce costs in order to stay competitive, investigating the potential for metal stampings can yield significant advantages in reducing costs and time to market.
Metal stamping firms that employ advanced technology such as 3D simulation software and virtual prototyping can complete the evaluation quickly, whether for a miniature part or a large-gauge component.
How Automotive Metal Stampings Can Save Money Over Other Processes
Replace costly need for multiple suppliers and secondary operations
Precision metal stamping technology can perform multiple operations to produce a stamped part using a progressive die, which may replace more costly processes such as fine blanking or metal casting that may require multiple suppliers and secondary operations.
Secondary operations that might be required for fine blanking, which can be accomplished with a progressive metal stamping instead, include:
- Forming
- Piercing
- Drawing
- In-die staking, toxing, riveting
- Coining, countersinks
For more information on switching from fine blanking, review our blog article: Progressive Stamping vs. Fine Blanking: Three Questions OEMs Should Ask.
Modify the part's design to yield savings
The greatest potential savings come when engineers from OEMs and their major suppliers take the time to work with metal stamping engineers on the initial part design and Design for Manufacturability. Metal stamping engineers will review the part specifications and evaluate the cost of production, the cost of the materials, and any opportunity to simplify assembly to determine whether metal stamping can reduce overall costs. Metal stamping engineers may be able to offer slight modifications to the part’s design that can yield savings without affecting critical dimensions and function.
In a case study on auto brake technology, Kenmode showed how it reduced costs for a complex brake part that had been produced by fine blanking, followed by three operations, which was converted to a metal stamping. Not only did the intricate stamping process reduce the piece price by more than half, but the stamping production also eliminated the need for additional steps and suppliers, which cut production time dramatically.
Cut material costs through metal stamping
In another example in the case study, the switch to metal stamping saved 30 percent of the cost of materials and production. The supplier had asked for a quote on a secondary operation that would use metal stamping to stamp and form the end of the tube for a sub-e assembly, which called for expensive metal tubing. Kenmode developed a complex metal stamping that eliminated the need for the tubing, used less costly flat steel, cut out several secondary operations, and maintained the strength of the part.
The cost of materials is particularly critical when precious metals such as gold are used for plating, which is often the case for electrical connections. Metal stampers will look for ways to design the metal stamping strip to minimize the use of precious metals and eliminate waste where possible.
Minimize the use of costly materials in the metal stamping design
Metal stamping engineers will evaluate these and other factors in designing the metal stamping strip to ensure the most efficient production and material usage:
- The production process at the manufacturer and how the metal stamping will be handled in final assembly
- Whether the part can be redesigned so that the metal stamping will eliminate steps in the overall assembly
- Orientation of the part on the metal stamping carrier strip
- Direction of the grain of the metal part
- Any under-plating of a less expensive metal and how the precious metal will bond to it
- The exact surface area that must be plated and whether spot plating can be used
- The need for secondary operations after plating
For more information, see our article, Designing the Metal Stamping Strip to Minimize the Use of Precious Metals.
Supporting Automotive Innovation with Advanced Technologies
As smart technology used in driver assists, self-driving vehicles, and other sophisticated applications gains traction, automotive OEMs and their suppliers can benefit by working together more closely to turn exciting new concepts into reality.
As with other suppliers, when automotive manufacturers and their suppliers evaluate a metal stamping firm’s ability to produce breakthrough part designs, they should look for advanced technology in use throughout the metal stamping process.
A metal stamper should offer:
- Research and development
- Rapid prototyping
- 3D simulations
- Advanced engineering
- In-house tool design and build
- Dedicated program management for new products
- In-die sensor technology and advanced quality control systems
Of equal importance is the metal stamping firm’s ability to reduce costs wherever possible, without compromising quality. Savings often can be identified upfront when metal stamping engineers are given the opportunity to consult with the supplier’s engineers on part design and suggest modifications that can cut costs and production time.
To learn how Kenmode has worked collaboratively with automotive OEMs and their suppliers on new product development and to get details on the resulting savings, download our free case study, Converting to Metal Stampings for Auto Brake Technology Drives Innovation, Savings.
