Among the many variations of tooling for metal stamping, the most basic type is stage tooling. Metal components created with stage tooling are formed using multiple tools on the same press. Tooling is changed between each operation, expanding design and manufacturing capabilities to include both simple and highly complex designs.
Stage tooling requires minimal tooling investment and is an excellent solution for low-volume metal stamping projects. At Hudson Technologies, we use in-house equipment and stage tooling to manufacture metal parts to your exact specifications. Talk to an expert today and learn what we can do for you.
What is Stage Tooling?
Stage tooling, or short-run metal stamping, is a metal-shaping process that converts sheet metal into predesigned components. The tooling for each operation of a part’s stamping process is placed into an individual press and is changed between each operation. Precision machining is achieved by maintaining the press’s configuration and specification for each tooling.
The various phases or “stages” of operations are coordinated to perform specific production methods and can create a wide range of components. This means the number of stage tooling operations will vary between different components based on unique design requirements.
Benefits of Stage Tooling for Low-Volume Metal Stamping
While stage tooling has the highest per-part costs compared to other custom tooling methods, it has the lowest overall tooling costs, making it ideal for short-run metal stamping projects. At Hudson Technologies, all stage tooling parts are cold-formed and do not use induced heat to form the metal. Because stage tooling occurs in phases, parts can be manufactured with greater variability.
Advantages of stage tooling for metal stamping processes include:
- Flexibility between stages
- Simple set up
- Tight tolerances
- Can form simple and complex parts
- Cost-effective for low-volume metal stamping
- Repeatability
- Easy to revise or adjust
Additional Tooling for Metal Stamping
At our state-of-the-art facility, we manage over 130 metal-forming presses designed to handle all types of projects. Our wide range of stamping equipment and advanced machinery allows us to manufacture top-quality metal parts for clients in any industry.
In addition to stage tooling, we engage in a variety of other tooling methods to expand our capabilities and ensure we can meet your needs. Our experts will help you determine the best tooling method for your production requirements:
- Progressive Die Tooling: This method incorporates all required tooling into a single die set. Sheet metal is fed through a press and stamped at each operation. The finished part is cut off and ejected after completion. Progressive die tooling is excellent for high-volume production runs.
- Rubber Pad Forming: With this style of tooling, sheet metal is pressed between a die and a rubber block. The rubber can be standard flat or machined in a die shape to expand design capabilities. Rubber pad forming is commonly used for low-volume production runs.
- Transfer Press Tooling: This process integrates all necessary tooling into one die set. After the sheet metal is inserted into a press, each component is separated during the first operation and transferred to each consecutive operation. Transfer tooling is ideal for high-volume production runs.
Short Run Metal Stamping Services from Hudson Technologies
Ready to begin your short-run metal stamping order? With over 80 years of industry experience, Hudson Technologies is your trusted partner for all your metal forming needs. Our trained experts work with you from start to finish to ensure we meet your requirements every step of the way.
Explore answers to Frequently Asked Questions or contact us to learn more, and a team member will assist you. Request a quote to get started on your order today.
