TABLE OF CONTENTS Blanking and punching dies are known as cutting dies. They may be simple, combination, or compound. A blanking die is generally cheaper to make and faster in operation than a trim die. A single blanking die can produce either a right or left part, while two trim dies are needed for trimming: one die for right-hand parts and another die for left-hand parts. When a sheared flat blank drops through the die block (die shoe) it piles up on top of the bolster plate. If the blank goes through the hole, it is called a drop-blank die. A die in which the sheared blank returns upward is called a return-blank die. Return-blank dies are slower in operation and cost more to build than drop-blank dies.
A punching die is a typical single-station die design for production holes made in flat stock, which may be manually or automatically fed. The stock guide keeps the stock on a straight path through the die. The amount of stock travel is controlled by the method of feeding, by stops of various designs, or by direct or indirect piloting. A combination die is a single-station die in which both cutting and non-cutting operations are accomplished at one press stroke.
A compound die is a single-station die in which two or more cutting operations are accomplished at every press stroke.
In this chapter, the design characteristics of cutting dies, as well as the very important calculations for the technological parts...
