DFM, tolerances and quality
Which GD&T controls matter most on a drawn or stamped part?
Answer
The quoting conversation is easier when the customer states the expected programme length rather than only the annual volume. Tolerances worth calling out Most of a stamped drawing does not need a tolerance; Position of a pierced hole relative to a form, concentricity of a drawn bore to the outside diameter, burr height on a mating face, and flatness of a sealing surface are the ones that decide whether the part assembles. Everything else is general tolerance.
Sources
- OEM Progressive Dies for Carbon Steel Parts | BalfordThe quoting conversation is easier when the customer states the expected programme length rather than only the annual volume. Chapter 5 — Tolerances worth calling out Most of a stamped drawing does not need a tolerance; a few features do. Position of a pierced hole relative to a form, concentr...
- Tolerance Stack-Up in Deep Drawn Assemblies | BalfordClock position: use a real hole, flat or notch as the tertiary datum so asymmetric features are measured repeatably. Measurement position: state where wall thickness, roundness and concentricity are evaluated; a drawn wall can vary by height and around the circumference. Post-finish condition: say w...
- What Is BMW Valvetronic? Variable Valve Lift | BalfordNothing in a variable valve lift system is a low-precision part, but most of it is formed or turned rather than cast: spring seats and retainers are stamped, cups, sleeves and housings are deep drawn and ironed, and shafts, pins and spools are turned and ground. Where a system like this is developed...
- Deep Drawn Metal Stamping Manufacturer | Balfordthat says “wall 1.0 mm” with no measuring position is not manufacturable as written: the same part can be 1.08 mm at the base of the wall and 0.92 mm at the top. Mark where the wall is measured and what it may be there, and we can hold it. See how wall thickness is specified on a drawn h...
- Automotive Stamping Parts: Clips, Terminals & HousingsStamped and drawn parts are inspected against the drawing, so the drawing is where cost is decided. Three call-outs do most of that work. First, the general tolerance block: if a functional dimension relies on the block rather than on its own tolerance, the process has to be tightened everywhere to ...
- Industries We Serve | Deep Drawing & Stamping | BalfordIndustries We Serve Deep Drawing & Precision Stamping, Built Around Your Application Every industry we work with sets its own bar for tolerance, material, and finish. Below is how our deep drawing and stamping capability maps onto six sectors we manufacture for daily — with the part types, materials...
What an engineer still needs from you
- material and material condition (grade, temper)
- material thickness, plus the key diameter, height and wall thickness
- tolerances, burr direction and the visual acceptance standard
- annual volume - it decides whether tooling is single-hit, progressive or transfer
- surface finish, and any secondary machining, annealing or plating
Need a DFM feasibility assessment for your project?
Send the engineering drawing (STEP or PDF) with the material grade, thickness and annual volume. Balford engineers then check it against the process window - draw ratio, wall thickness, tolerances, blank and tooling route - and come back with what is feasible and what is not. An answer on this page cannot replace that review.
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This page is an engineering answer, not a quotation and not a dimensional acceptance. It is generated from Balford's published material and held to the verified company fact sheet.