A Notching and Piercing Die turns flat strip into finished parts at rates no machining process matches, once a design and a volume justify the investment. Designed for automotive body and bracket work, this Notching and Piercing Die is produced in A2 steel with a nitride treatment with tool design with strip layout, wire cut detail and tryout on press. The figures below are the ones recorded at tryout rather than theoretical values.
Tolerance is applied where it does work rather than across the whole drawing. Critical features are held to ±0.05 mm, non-critical dimensions follow the general machining tolerance, and the difference is stated in the quotation rather than discovered later.
Specification
| Process | Tool design with strip layout, wire cut detail and tryout on press |
|---|---|
| Material / configuration | A2 steel with a nitride treatment |
| Size / capacity | press forces to 250 tonnes |
| Tolerance | ±0.05 mm |
| Surface finish | deburred and hardened tool surfaces |
| Application | notching and piercing die for automotive body and bracket work |
| Inspection | Dimensional report, material certificate, first article report on request |
| Lead time | 7–15 working days for samples, 3–4 weeks for production |
| Minimum order | 1 piece for prototypes, from 50 pieces for production pricing |
Manufacturing process
Work is carried out with tool design with strip layout, wire cut detail and tryout on press. Tooling, speeds and fixturing are recorded with the part number, so a repeat order starts from a proven process instead of a fresh setup.
Material is purchased against a certificate and checked on receipt, so the composition is known before any cutting starts. Work in progress is identified by part number and operation, and the finished parts are deburred, cleaned and protected before they leave the machine area.
Typical applications
Most of the work supplied in this category falls into the following examples.
- Brackets and mounting plates.
- Terminals and contacts.
- Shielding cans and frames.
- Washers and shims.
- Hinges and clips.
Quality control and documentation
Critical features are measured on calibrated equipment in a controlled room, and the results are filed with the job so that a repeat order can be compared with the first.
Material certificates to EN 10204 3.1, dimensional reports and first article inspection reports are issued with the shipment where the application requires them. Calibration dates and measurement uncertainty are recorded alongside every result.
Ordering, lead time and packaging
Packaging is specified by the part: individual protection for finished surfaces, separation for assemblies, and export crating with a packing list for shipment.
Frequently asked questions
When is a progressive die worth the cost?
Above roughly 50,000 parts a year. Below that, laser cutting and bending usually costs less in total, even though the piece part price is higher.
How is burr formation controlled?
By correct die clearance, typically 5 to 10 per cent of material thickness per side, sharp punches and a scheduled regrind interval before the burr limit is reached.
What file formats do you need for a quotation?
STEP or IGES for the 3D model and a PDF drawing with tolerances, material and surface finish called out. Native files from SolidWorks, Creo or Inventor are also accepted.
Drawings are reviewed for manufacturability before quotation, and any feature that adds cost without adding function is pointed out at that stage rather than after the parts are made.
