The Difference Between Deep Drawing and Stamping

Deep Drawing and Stamping each require a design process, with considerations of how the materials will affect the manufacturing process, production costs, and the ease of manufacture. Material thickness, the type of bending or formability involved are also characteristics that will be different for each process, depending on the shapes being formed, and the shape of the end product. While there are many similarities between these two processes, there are not as many differences.

What is Metal Stamping?

Stamping is a manufacturing process when coils or flat sheets of material are formed into specific shapes. The Stamping process is used to make small changes to parts, such as bends, tabs, or embossments. These features tend to be much shallower in depth than a deep drawn part. Stamped parts start flat and go through a sequence of stamps from a press, where new features such as small tabs, are folded in, or holes are punched out. These features are very sharp, detailed, and precise. Stamping is a broad term that includes many specific forming techniques such as embossing, blanking, punching, bending, flanging, and the list goes on. Each of these methods involve short, quick, and abrupt hits or press movements.

At Toledo Metal Spinning, our stamping capabilities lie with our Komatsu Mechanical Press, where we intertwine our deep drawing abilities with stamping and are able to pierce holes, or form small tabs or flanges. Before the integration of our laser cutting technology, we used to cut blanks with this press.  

How is Stamping different from Deep Drawing?

Deep Drawing is used to make larger features such as as cups, pans, or domes. We draw parts from our two hydraulic AP&T presses. Drawing a cup requires exerting a significant amount of pressure on a flat sheet, and gradually drawing it over a die to sculpt it into the cup shape. Forming these shapes requires much more pressure over a longer period of time than a quick stamp. If the pressure is not controlled properly or is performed too fast, the metal will fracture or break, and will not be usable.  

The shape of the part is the main difference between a stamped or deep drawn product. Drawn parts will have more pronounced curves in the shapes, and will be larger than a stamped part. Below is an example of one of our deep drawn cups. Take note of the defined edges and curves, while its strength and durability is present.