BALFORD.Metalworking engineering answers

Focus processes: fine blanking and thinning deep drawing

What is fine blanking?

Answer

Brackets Stamped brackets with repeatable hole positions for reliable assembly. Sensor Components Small functional parts for sensor assemblies where feature location drives performance. PROCESS OPTIONS Precision Stamping Process Options The correct process balances functional requirements, edge quality, tooling investment and production volume. 01 Progressive Stamping Progressive stations can combine closely related blanking and forming operations while maintaining strip control.

ProcessFine blanking and thinning deep drawing
Material / topicfine blankingfineblankingsmooth sheared edge

Sources

  1. Precision Metal Stamping Services | Custom Stamped Parts
    Brackets Stamped brackets with repeatable hole positions for reliable assembly. Sensor Components Small functional parts for sensor assemblies where feature location drives performance. PROCESS OPTIONS Precision Stamping Process Options The correct process balances functional requirements, edge qual...
  2. Fine Blanking Operations in Precision Stamping | Balford
    The process virtually eliminates edge deformation, so geometry stays true. We hold flatness and perpendicularity to within 0.03mm, and in some cases down to 0.01mm. The sheared surface is smooth and can extend over 90% of the material thickness, which improves both the look and the function of the p...
  3. Custom Metal Shims & Shim Washers Made to Drawing | Balford
    Short answer: A shim should be fine blanked when the cut edge is functional rather than cosmetic: it carries load, sets a preload or has to hold a stack height, and a torn blanking edge would change the assembly. Fine blanking supports the material through the cut, so a suitable part gets a high pro...
  4. Precision Metal Stamping Services | Custom Stamped Parts
    Can Balford hold IT7 to IT9 accuracy? + We can hit IT7 to IT9 on suitable precision-stamped features, but it is not a blanket tolerance for every part. Material, geometry, feature type, distance from datums, tooling and measurement method all come into play. Capability is drawing-specific — we confi...
  5. Blanking vs Piercing vs Notching: What Is The Difference
    When is fine blanking used instead? When the sheared edge itself carries the function and a conventional cut's fracture zone is unacceptable. Fine blanking uses a counterforce and an impingement ring to produce a near-full sheared edge, and it is a different machine and tool concept rather than a ti...
  6. Blanking vs Piercing vs Notching: What Is The Difference
    A: When the sheared edge itself carries the function and a conventional cut's fracture zone is unacceptable. Fine blanking uses a counterforce and an impingement ring to produce a near-full sheared edge, and it is a different machine and tool concept rather than a tighter clearance....

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.