One of the frequently asked questions metal fabricators get is about the difference between metal stamping and metal fabrication. We will address that question here by defining what metal stamping is and how it differs from metal fabrication. We will also talk about how metal fabrication is a cost effective choice for producing metal parts.
What Is Metal Stamping?
Metal stamping refers to many different metal forming operations, including bending, pressing, punching, stamping, stretching, or flanging a metal piece with a high-tonnage stamping press. These processes use these presses and custom tooling and dies to form a piece of metal into the shape or pattern that is needed. Stamping can be done in separate processes or through multiple stages. Simple parts can be shaped with one press stroke. This is called a single-stage operation. Other parts may take multiple strokes to complete. Metal stamping is usually performed when replicating parts in large batches.
What Is Metal Fabrication?
In contrast, metal fabrication involves the manufacture of three-dimensional metal parts through different processes such as cutting, bending, and welding. It usually requires more specialized equipment than metal stamping does, equipment like CNC press brakes, CNC turret presses, CNC laser cutters, and welding. Metal fabrication is often a less expensive option for producing parts in smaller quantities because it doesn’t require custom tooling. It’s also more flexible in terms of design modifications because no tooling needs to be changed if the part design needs to be changed.
Fabricated parts may be complete, or more often they are components that will be used in equipment, medical technology, furniture, or a wide range of manufactured products.
The Benefits of Metal Fabrication
There are multiple advantages to metal fabrication. These include:
- Speed – Because metal fabrication doesn’t require customized tooling, parts can be produced in a shorter time frame, saving time and money.
- Cost – The largest cost for metal stamping is designing the tooling. Because metal fabrication doesn’t require tooling or requires minimal tooling, it’s less expensive. At D+M Metal we’ve already made the investment in our machines so we have great flexibility. We can make adjustments easily to suit the needs of a specific project.
- Accuracy – Using today’s technology with lasers and press brakes, tolerances can be held to produce excellent quality for most applications.
At D+M Metal Products we pride ourselves on the excellence of our metal fabrication capacity. We have an impressive number and variety of machines that allow us to meet our customers needs as well as a wide variety of standard tooling that allows us to minimize tooling costs. We have been serving businesses in West Michigan and throughout the United States since 1946, providing the parts manufacturing they need. We are ISO 9001:2015 certified and committed to producing the highest quality parts possible for our customers. If you have questions about metal fabrication, please call us. We would be happy to answer them and talk to you about how we can help you with your parts manufacturing needs.