Why is Deep Drawing So Popular?

When you think about metal forming, it is not a surprise when deep drawing is the first thing that comes to mind. As the most popular of the metal forming methods, deep drawing is a great way to form metal sheets into just about any shape. So why is it so widely used? Why is deep drawing often the preferred method of metal forming especially when the depth of item matches or exceeds its radius? Once you get to know the deep drawing process, it will make complete sense.

The General Process

It all begins with the ubiquitous metal blank. You start with a single blank and a metal die; jobshopfrom there, it is really up to your imagination and the amount of pressure you apply. While this sounds like your average metal stamping process, it is different in that deep drawing offers the ability to create products deeper than regular metal stamping. There are some limitations, like radial drawing stress and tangential compressive stress causing wrinkling, fracturing, and cracking. However there have been improvements in recent years and the addition of a number of new processes including hydroforming, aquadrawing, hydro-mechanical deep drawing, hydraulic deep drawing, the Guerin process, and the Marform process have removed some of these risks.

Applications

While this list is far reaching, deep drawing is used in the creation of products of all shapes and sizes including,

  • Electronics relays
  • Solenoids
  • Assembly housings
  • Aluminum cans
  • Cookware
  • Kitchen sinks

Cost Benefits of Deep Drawing

Deep drawing can and often does lower your costs. This is especially true when you are producing a product in high volumes. Once you lock down your tooling and dies, the deep drawing process moves forward with little downtime. On top of this, tool construction costs are usually lower than other processes. The only draw back is that, like most manufacturing projects, when the complexity increases so does the cost.

End Product Benefits

If you are looking to create a product that requires strength and minimal weight, especially a cylindrical object, deep drawing is the perfect choice. It is also the way to go if your project demands,

  • Seamless parts
  • Rapid cycle times
  • Complex axi-symmetric geometries
  • Reduced technical labor

Of course, there are many other benefits and some limitations to deep drawing. To find out if deep drawing is right for you, we suggest contacting us. Our metal forming experts, combined with our outstanding selection of equipment, makes Pentaflex a perfect place for your next deep drawing project!

 

Reference:

http://pentaflex.com/

http://pentaflex.com/capabilities/equipment