Deep Drawing and Press Forming

Deep Draw forming with conventional tool and die technology is the stretching of sheet metal stock, commonly referred to as a blank, around a plug in either a hydraulic or mechanical press. The edges of the blank are restrained yet allowed to slide by a precise pressure between two tool surfaces; normally in a ring shape. One ring is the blank holder and the other is the forming die. The plug passes through the blank holder ring into the cavity of the die ring at the desired depth to achieve the end shape. The dimensions on the part are set based on the shape of the plug, the shape of the die, and how deep the part is drawn. For fatigue strength and applications where uniform metal thickness is critical, drawing and hydroforming are preferred over metal spinning. Like hydroforming, conventional draw forming applications are typically enclosures, cans, cups, canisters, containers, covers, motor shrouds, tanks, shells, etc.

Deep drawing and press forming are two essential processes used in the manufacturing industry to produce complex shapes and designs from sheet metal. Press forming involves compressing a sheet of metal into a specific shape using hydraulic or mechanical power. Deep drawing, involves creating a three-dimensional shape, such as a cylinder or dome, from a flat sheet of metal by pulling it into a forming die with a punch. It is commonly used to produce pharmaceutical containers, automobile parts, Food Processing Equipment, Lighting, Bulk handling Equipment and more.

Both Press Forming and Deep Drawing are used to create a variety of parts, including domes, enclosures, and more. Deep Drawn and Press formed parts can be made from a range of materials such as aluminum, stainless steel, copper and brass.

Both processes require precision and experience to achieve the desired result, and Toledo Metal Spinning has over 90 years of expertise. 

In summary, while both deep drawing and press forming are distinct techniques, they are critical processes that allow for the mass production of intricate and intricate designs using sheet metal.

Our presses also offer another unique service as we can use them to create “Pre-forms” or preliminary part formings that will be used to ease the metal spinning process and allow us to achieve more complicated forms with metal spinning and ensure the highest quality part using this process. This helps us minimize the material strain in the metal by utilizing the best aspects of each process. Deep drawing and metal spinning as a combined process can produce parts that deep drawing alone or spinning alone might not be able to do.

Parts can be created utilizing sheet or tube forms of aluminum 1100-O, 3003-O, and 6061-O, carbon steels 1008-1020, CDA 655 copper, 655 and 718 inconel, and stainless steel series 304, 304 DDQ, 316, 410, and 430. Our state of the art equipment utilizes a punch force of up to 368 t and a pressure of 10 ksi to create custom parts, achieving tolerances of +/-.020 in and +/-.030 in., with +/-.010 in., in special cases. The maximum punch diameter is 12 in, blank diameters can reach 15 in, and flange diameters are also up to 15 in. Hydroform drawn parts are possible in sizes of up to 7 in. in height.

Once the part is drawn, if it needs a hole, a stamped feature, welded fitting, or a metal polish specification you can also increase the value of your TMS drawn part while saving time and money by taking advantage of our secondary stamping, spin forming, machining, welding, and metal finishing operations.