The Precision Touch in Custom Metal Stamping

A common belief exists that prototyping should be the last stage of a design. On the contrary, working with a component manufacturer to prototype a concept has many advantages for both customer and supplier.

Design Assistance

The advantages of involving a component manufacturer in the early stages of a design are well documented. Precision stamped component manufacturers that provide engineering resources for customers can assist designers in many areas, including: material selection, feature shapes, feature sizes, and feature tolerances. Also, the manufacturer can identify opportunities for reducing the number of components or operations by providing value-added features such as multi-type materials and in-die assembly.

Development Time

Development time can be significantly reduced by working with a stamped component supplier throughout the design stage. As explained in this paper, many options exist for prototypes of varying degrees of replication to the final production product. Selecting one or more of these options at the early stages of the design can help reduce time-consuming indecision by creating intermediate mock-ups of the product.

Design Iterations

Much of the cost and time involved in making a change to an existing prototype can be avoided if the designer and component manufacturer discuss potential changes prior to producing the first prototype. A stamped component manufacturer can easily accommodate the need for changes if the possibility of modifications is identified at the tool design stage.

Smooth Transition to Production Manufacturing

Selecting a manufacturer capable of volume manufacturing enables a smooth transition to production tooling and manufacturing. Production tooling costs and lead times can be reduced since the manufacturer knows how to better design the tool based on actual experience producing prototypes and applying prototype part performance feedback to the tool design.

Evaluating a New Supplier

Stamping component manufacturers that deliver quality prototypes on time are most likely to do the same with production parts. Evaluating a new supplier at the prototype stage is often less risky than doing the same with a critical production part. Engineering support, project management, customer service and quality systems should be evaluated throughout the prototyping process to determine if the supplier is a viable partner for producing production products.