Press tools are used within a wide range of sheet metal processes and incorporate a number of operations such as blanking, bending and forming. Press tools can be used to achieve a range of complex shapes using thin material, through the application of pressure. Often, the cost of tooling is only justified by the production of high-volume batches and is not suitable for prototype work and low-volume production.
Press tools generally consist of a number of machined components assembled together, including a top and bottom plate, guide pillars and guide bushes. These are generally milled and turned from materials such as tool steel, stainless steel, carbide and mild steel, with a single press tool assembly sometimes incorporating multiple materials.
Used to produce
Commonly-used materials include tool steel, stainless steel, carbide and mild steel, with a single press tool assembly sometimes incorporating multiple materials.