Brass Stampings
Brass stampings are formed during metal forming processes in which flat stock brass sheets or brass coils are precisely shaped in a stamping press. As one of the most common materials used in the metal stamping process, brass is any alloy of copper and zinc. Offering excellent thermo and electricity conduction, brass stampings are often formed as transmission parts and electronic instruments. Also,
brass has a bright, gold-like appearance that makes it ideal for decorative applications. Able to be formed into two-dimensional and three-dimensional parts, brass stampings are also utilized in applications such as heater components, jewelry, musical instruments, valves, locks,
gears, household fixtures, plumbing accessories and flare fittings. Offering high malleability and exceptional acoustic properties, brass stampings are often beneficial for industries such as aerospace, commercial, automotive, electronics, HVAC, appliance, textile and wastewater. Relatively resistant to tarnishing, brass stampings can offer a wide range of properties as a result of different variations of zinc and copper that form varied and unique types of brass. Also, some brasses are referred to as
bronzes, which are actually an alloy of copper and tin.
In brass stamping processes during press operation, the slide, or ram, maintains movement to and from a motionless table called a press bed. The die, a press tool consisting of a specially designed cavity, shapes metal parts from the inserted sheet metal. The upper component of the die connects to the press slide, and the lower component connects to the press bed. A die component called the punch performs the necessary shaping operation by pushing the sheet metal through the die. There are three main stamping processes in which brass stampings are formed: progressive stamping, deep drawn stamping and transfer press stamping. Progressive stamping is a brass forming process done with large, heavy duty presses that use several dies together on the same brass sheet. A die is a press tool for cutting or forming material in a stamping machine. Progressive die stamping combines the forming and cutting processes for efficiency and economy. In progressive die stamping, multiple dies stamp the sheet metal at the same time. This metal stamping process is used to form automotive components quickly. Transfer presses can also be used to form brass stampings. Transfer presses are a type of hydraulic press that work by feeding flat brass blanks automatically into the right end of the press. From there, feed bar fingers take the brass part and move it from die to die.