Rfq Die Maker

Another question... How thick of metal should the dies be made out of?
Thanks again
 
Good question! And the answer is: I'm not sure:)

I think at least 1 inch for the dies and a couple inches on the punches. You want the tools to be beefy enough to take the load. The shut height (how far it closes at the bottom of the stroke) of the press needs to be taken into account. In other words the tools have to be tall enough to close up in the die.

The tool height is going to also be dependent on the design of the overall system. If you are using a hydraulic press, it can develop full tonnage anywhere in the stroke, but a mechanical punch press or press brake only develops full tonnage at the bottom of the stroke.

When you figure out what press you are going to use, I'll help you figure out the best way to mount the tools and what the base shape and heights need to be.
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Thank you for all, and especially JimDawson for this thread, and for the Lempco link.
I'm looking forward to learning more abut both the process of making and using punch and dies.
If there is additional recommended reading, or validated "how to" videos please forward them.

Daryl
MN
 
Jim: Any good reading material on die design that you can recommend? I need to design and build some dies for some projects. A set of progressives would be nice, but are way out of the budget, so I will have to be happy with single station dies that I can manually step parts through. Design and stamping force requirements come before looking for the press.
 
Here is a little reading to get you started

http://www.thefabricator.com/article/stamping/how-do-i-calculate-tonnage-in-progressive-stampingr

http://www.thefabricator.com/article/bending/bending-basics-why-tonnage-matters

http://www.thefabricator.com/articl...g-theory-of-bending-on-the-press-brake-part-i

http://www.jorgensonmachinetools.com/calculators/

These should keep you busy for about a week;) The way it's normally calculated is some back-of-the-envelope figuring, and then the old guy says ''Yeah, it'll run in that press over there'' After a time you really just get a feel for what it's going to take.
 
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