Fly press / stamping machine

[antknee]

Hi,

I have some 0.2mm (0.008 inch) thick stainless steel that I want pressed or stamped flat. It is flatish now but I want it 100% flat. The parts are just 3cm / 1 inch diameter and I don't want to send them out to be done. I want to buy a cheapish fly press or stamping machine. What would you recommend? I mean how much press do I need to get 0.2mm stainless 100% flat? I don't want to spend more than £200, $300 unless I have to. And how much is the thickness going to change?

Regards,

Ant.

 

[antknee]

Agree. Thanks for the spot on comments. Regards, Ant.

 

[EdStainless]

If you really want them flat then lapp them. adding force will change the distortion but not likely get them any flatter.

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Plymouth Tube

 

[KENAT]

If you're serious about your flatness range then I'm not sure pressing will do it. If you really need to get down I think you probably need to grind or even lap as Ed says.

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[MiketheEngineer]

Flatness can be measured by the difference in height from edge to edge or to center line.


Look into "coining" - the US Mint does a pretty good job of this....

 

[EdStainless]

If they had been fine blanked in the first place they would be flat.
I would still try to lap them, you will get flatness better than you can measure and there is no tooling, just machining costs. Very low stress process also.

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Plymouth Tube

 

[MiketheEngineer]

Lapping is rather labor intensive - BUT it will be FLAT!!!

 

[Compositepro]

If a 12" square of 0.020" shim stock is not flat, it will not be made flat by lapping. Just one example.

 

[EdStainless]

These are 1" diameter, easy enough to polish flat by hand.

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Plymouth Tube

 

[MikeHalloran]

Since you indicated an intention to coin the parts at a later process step, I fail to see the added value of lapping or even pressing them 'flatter' now.



Mike Halloran
Pembroke Pines, FL, USA