These can be made in high volume in the same was as a bracket however as no large forming is required the product is usually cheaper to produce and tool up for.

Bear in mind with 2D products in low volume, if tolerances are not too critical then these can be laser cut with ease and negates the need for tooling. Laser cutting is the chosen method for parts over 5mm thick. BBE would look to assist you with both methods and are always happy to suggest a method dependant on your needs.

Box shaped products:

If your part formed a rectangular or square box section, then again pressing is a great method of manufacture. The process in which this is done is largely the same as the bracket however in most instances a different process is needed. With some larger parts like car oil sumps a process called deep drawing is used. I’ll expand on that process in the next part type. Box shaped parts can be produced using progression tools however their size tends to be bigger so always check with the manufacturer on this as some presses won’t be large enough.

With regards to press size, the presswork company will do the necessary calculations regarding what size press is required to produce your product. BBE works closely with larger companies if we cannot accommodate a certain part and will always aim to help with any enquiry.

We manufacture the part shown in a number of stages on single stage tooling as this suits the customer and their requirements.

Cans, Pots and circular vessels:

This category of items comes under the ‘drawing’ heading of presswork or stamping. When producing a product such as the one pictured laws apply to the method of production. In most cases you can’t produce in 1 operation as the laws of physics dictate that the material will split if asked to do too much work in one operation. Therefore, they must be done in a series of ‘reductions’ to obtain the final size. Deep drawn pressings refer to a ratio of diameter to height and require expertise to get right. These pressings can be done in a variety of ways. BBE produces many thousands of drawn parts on a weekly basis through a few different methods. Smaller parts are made using progression tooling, however the largest deep drawn parts are done on our hydraulic presses as they offer control and speed adjustment to reduce risk of splitting and deformation. It’s not uncommon to have 5 to 10 operations to get the final dimensions, so bear this in mind when looking to have a part like this made. Some presses called transfer presses have the ability to transfer parts from stage to stage in 1 stroke to produce deep drawn components in high volume. However, bear in mind that typical tooling costs and investment for this type of production is not for the feint hearted!

Points to consider with drawn products:

  • As can/pot diameter reduces in relation to can height the number of operations increase which increases tooling costs.
  • High volume deep drawn parts need careful consideration of the method of production as tooling investment is high.
  • Tight radiuses on parts makes the part prone to splitting so always allow the maximum permissible radii when designing your part.
  • Some materials work harden when drawing and may need to be annealed part way through the process to allow further working, ask us if we think this is an issue. Stainless steel and Aluminium are common parts that need annealing when drawing.
  • Developing the process on a new part can take time, tool trials and sample production can and does present problems which can cause delays so add a factor of safety in your lead times. 

In the last part we’ll look at some common issues that can occur when looking at pressing enquiries and some final thoughts on the topic. 

For any presswork enquiries you may have, please contact sales@bbepressings.co.uk and follow our twitter page @bbepressings for all the lastest news and info about BBE and UK Manufacturing.