Types of press tooling: blanking, forming and progression tools
The type of press tool designed will be governed by the part you need to be made. We can help you produce your product by creating blanking, forming or progression tooling. But what’s the difference?
Blanking
Blanking uses a blanking tool which cuts out a shape from flat sheet metal using a single cut. The useable metal is the part that’s cut out, known as a blank. Piercing is similar to blanking – but with piercing the cut-out piece is discarded, leaving sheet metal with a hole in it. We can create press tooling that does both, and simultaneously.
Forming
Forming simply means changing the shape of the metal. The blank is placed into a press brake or power press, and the machine applies a force to add an angle or curve, or sometimes a design. The forming tool we create determines the shape.
Progression
Progression tooling is a complex press tool which is used when the blanking and forming processes are automated. Sheet metal from a coil is fed into the press, and the metal is ‘progressed’ automatically through various stages of cutting and bending to produce a finished piece.