Fine Blanking: The Ultimate Guide for Precision Metalworking

Looking for a way to improve the quality of your stamping process? Look no further than fine blanking.

This specialized stamping process offers unique quality characteristics that can replace previous methods such as blanking, machining, forging, casting, and powder metallurgy in various industries such as automobiles, motorcycles, and electronics.

With its potential to improve material plasticity and reduce stress concentration, fine blanking is a game-changer for manufacturers looking to produce high-quality, smooth, and even shear surfaces.

But what exactly is fine blanking, and how does it differ from general blanking?

This comprehensive guide from MachineMfg offers a deep dive into the fine blanking process, including its working principles, die design, and the factors that impact its technology.

Whether you’re a seasoned manufacturer or new to the stamping industry, this guide has everything you need to know to get started with fine blanking and take your production process to the next level.

The difference between ordinary blanking and fine blanking process

Comparison of cut-off faces of ordinary stamping parts and fine-blanking parts

During the punching process, the ring gear pressing plate is used to apply force on the material and press it onto the female die, creating lateral pressure on the inner surface of the V-shaped tooth. This helps to prevent tearing in the shear zone and lateral flow of metal.

6mm thick FORD handbrake fan part (Hand brake sector)

As the punching dies are pressed into the material, counter pressure from the ejector is applied to compress the material. This, along with the use of a small gap and a concave die with a rounded edge, eliminates stress concentration and places the metal in the shear zone under three-way compressive stress, reducing tensile stress and improving the material’s plasticity.

This approach prevents bending, stretching, and tearing that typically occur in ordinary blanking, instead causing the material to be blanked into parts through pure shear along the edge shape of the die, resulting in high-quality, smooth, and even shear surfaces.

6mm thick TESLA seat parts

In fine blanking, the pressing force, blanking gap, and die edge radius are interdependent and essential. The influence of these factors is interconnected, and when the clearance is even and the edge radius is suitable, a smooth section can be produced with minimal pressing material.

6mm thick TOYOTA tubing composition flange

Extremely high flatness requirements

Fine Blanking Overview

01 What Is Fine Blanking

Fine blanking, also known as precision blanking, is a specialized stamping process that is based on general blanking. While it falls under the same separation category, fine blanking involves specific parameters that set it apart from general blanking. The parts produced through fine blanking exhibit unique quality characteristics.

When combined with cold forming processes such as bending, deep drawing, flanging, upsetting, and extruding, fine blanking has the potential to replace previous methods such as blanking, machining, forging, casting, and powder metallurgy in various industries such as automobiles, motorcycles, and electronics. This showcases its technical advantages and economic benefits.

02 Fine Blanking Classification

The various different methods of fine blanking are categorized as follows according to their technological methods:

03 Fine Blanking Working Principle

1. Difference between blanking and fine blanking

The fine blanking we often talk about is not fine blanking in the general sense (such as trimming, finish blanking and high-speed blanking, etc.), but fine blanking with a strong pressure plate (see below figure).

• P_R–gear ring force
• P_S–punching force
• P_G-backpressure

The basic principle of fine blanking is to use a special (three-way force) press to produce plastic and shear deformation of the material with the help of a specially structured die to obtain high quality fine-blanked parts.

2. Fine blanking process characteristics

The following table shows the characteristics of the two different process methods: general blanking and fine blanking.

3. Working principle of the die

The fine blanking machine is special equipment for realizing the fine blanking process.

As shown in below figure, there are three kinds of forces (P_S, P_R, P_G) acting on the die during fine blanking.

Before the start of punching through the ring force P_R, through the shear line outside the guide plate (6), so that the V-shaped gear ring (8) pressed into the material and pressed on the die, thus generating lateral pressure on the inner surface of the V-shaped gear ring to prevent the material in the shear zone tearing and the lateral flow of metal outside the shear zone.

At the same time, the counterpressure P_G is pressed by the ejector (4) in the shear line, which presses the material against the cams, and in the pressed state, under the action of the punching force P_S.

The metal in the shear zone is in a three-way compressive stress state, which increases the plasticity of the material.

At this point, the material follows the shape of the die edge and punches the part in pure shear form.

At the end of punching, P_R and P_G pressure is released, the die is opened and the parts and scrap are ejected by the ejector force P_RA and the ejector force P_GA respectively, and are blown out with compressed air.

• Punch
• Die
• Internal punch
• Ejector
• Eject rod
• Guide plate
• Press plate
• Ring gear
• Fine blanking materials
• Fine blanking parts
• Internal waste
• Ps–Blanking force
• PR-Ring gear force
• PG–Back pressure
• PRA-Discharge force
• PGA-Ejection force
• SP–Blanking gap

4. Fine blanking work process 

(a) The die is opened and the material is fed;

(b) The die is closed and the material inside and outside the cutting edge (blanking line) is compressed by ring force and counterpressure;

(c) The material is blanked with the blanking force P_S, and the pressing force P_R and P_G are effectively pressed in the whole process;

(d) At the end of the ram stroke, the punch is in the die and the bore waste is flushed into the dropout die;

(e) The ring force P_R and counter pressure P_G are removed and the die is opened;

(f) In the position where the toothed ring force is applied, the effect is to eject the bore waste and to remove the discharge force P_RA from the punching lap;

(g) In the position where the counterpressure is applied, at this point the effect is: the topping force P_GA from the die.

Material starts to be fed;

h) Blow unload or remove waste materials of fine-blanking parts and inner holes.

Material feeding is complete.

• P_R-ring gear force
• P_G-back pressure
• Ps-blanking force
• P_RA–discharge force
• P_GA-ejection force
• 1- Press plate
• 2-Concave mold
• 3-Blanking (blanking) punch
• 4–Ejector
• 5–Fine blanking material
• 6–Fine blanking parts
• 7-Punching inner hole scrap

Fine Blanking Parts

01 Fine blanking parts technology

The technology of fine blanking parts primarily aims to meet the technical and functional requirements of the parts while also being simple and cost-effective during batch production. The factors that impact the technology include:

1. Design of the parts.
2. Dimensional and positional tolerances of the parts.
3. Properties and thickness of the material.
4. Quality of the pressed surface.
5. Die design, quality of manufacture, and longevity.
6. Selection of fine blanking machine, etc.

The technology of the structure of the fine blanking part refers to the elements that make up the geometry of the part, including the determination of minimum fillet radius, aperture, wall thickness, ring width, groove width, and punching modulus, among others. These values tend to be smaller for fine blanking parts than for general blanking parts, as determined by the fine blanking principle. However, well-designed structural parameters can improve product quality and reduce production costs.

Note: The figure referred to in the original text is not included.

02 Difficulty level of fine blanking parts

According to the geometry of the part and its structural units, it is divided into S₁, S₂ and S₃ in each of the diagrams.

• S₁-simple, which is suitable for fine blanking materials with shear strength Ks=700N/mm²
• S₂-medium, which is suitable for fine blanking materials with shear strength Ks=530N/mm²
• S₃-complex, which is suitable for  fine blanking materials with shear strength Ks=430N/mm²

In the range below S₃, fine blanking is not suitable, or special measures are required.

When using the range of S₃, the condition is that the punching element must be made of high-speed steel, and the tensile strength of the fine-blanking material is δb≤600 N/mm² (shear strength Ks≤430N/mm²).

Example:

The switch cam in Figure, the material is Cr15 (spheroidization), Ks=420N/mm², which determines its difficulty level.

• hole diameter d = 4.1 mm S₁
• scrap b = 3.5mm S₃
• gear modulus m = 2.25 mm S₂
• fillet radius R_a= 0.75 mm S₁/S₂

The maximum difficulty of this part is lap b, so the total difficulty is S₃ and can be fine blanked.

03 Technical requirements for fine blanking parts

1. Dimensional tolerances

The dimensional tolerances of precision blanked parts depend on: part shape, quality of tooling manufacture, material thickness and properties, lubricants and press adjustments, which can be selected from Table 1.

2. Flatness tolerance

The flatness of a precision punching part is the deflection of the part plane, which has the value:

f = h – s

Fine blanking parts have a good flatness due to the pressed state of the material during the fine blanking process. The flatness can vary depending on the size, shape, material thickness, and mechanical properties of the parts.

Generally, thicker parts are straighter than thin parts, low-strength materials are straighter than high-strength materials, and materials with higher pressing force are straighter than those with lower pressing force.

The surface of the material on the convex die side is always concave, while the concave die side is always convex.

However, if the part needs to be stamped, creased, notched, bent, or punched with a continuous die, the flatness may fluctuate widely due to local deformation or different punching directions on the part.

Nevertheless, the flatness of precision stamped parts is always better than that of normal stamped parts. The figure below shows the general straightness measured at a distance of 100 mm.

3. Perpendicularity Tolerance

The surface of a fine blanked part and the base surface form an angle with a certain tolerance, known as non-perpendicularity. This is influenced by factors such as the material’s thickness and properties, the state of the cutting edge during punching, the rigidity of the die, and the adjustment of the press.

Generally, when the material thickness is 1mm, the non-perpendicularity is 0.0026mm, and when the material thickness is 10mm, the burr side is 0.052mm larger than the sunken side. The relationship between material thickness and non-perpendicularity is shown below.

4. Blanking surface quality

The quality of fine blanking parts is largely determined by the blanking surface.

This surface is affected by factors such as the type of material, its properties and metallurgical structure, the quality of the die and cutting edge, the use of lubricants, and the adjustment of the press.

The blanking surface has four distinct components: smooth surface, splitting surface, sunk defect surface, and burr surface.

The below figure shows the three main characteristics of the blanking surface and their significance.

In the figure:

• S – material thickness.
• h – minimum finish fraction as a percentage of the material thickness S at break (%).
• l – minimum finish fraction as a percentage of the material thickness S with fish scale fracture (%).
• b – the maximum permissible fish scale fracture width, where the sum of b is not greater than 10% of the relevant profile.
• t – allowed fracture depth is 1.5% S.
• e – burr height (mm).
• c – 30% of the collapsed corner width S (maximum).
• d – 20% S (maximum) for the depth of collapse (30% S for tooth shafts).
• E-Maximum width of the splitting tape.

(1) Blanking surface roughness

The finish of the blanking surface varies in different directions and positions around the perimeter. Typically, the side that has collapsed is smoother than the burr side. The roughness of the blanked surface is represented by the arithmetic mean value aR, with a value typically ranging from Ra = 0.2 to 3.6, which is divided into six grades (refer to Table 2).

The measurement direction is perpendicular to the punching direction, and the measurement location is in the middle of the blanking surface (as shown in Figure 6a). The relationship between the roughness of the blanking surface and the tensile strength of the material is illustrated in Figure 6b.

Table 2 Blanking surface roughness

(2) Blanking surface integrity rate

There are five levels of intactness on the blanking surface of fine-blanking parts.

(3) Splitting grade of blanking surface

There are four levels of splitting on the blanking surface of fine-blanked parts.

(4) Method and significance of the quality of the blanking surface

The representation and meaning of the quality characteristics of the punching surface are shown in below figure.

For example,

• the roughness of the blanked surface is Ra = 2.4 μm;
• the finish is h = 90%S;
• l = 75%S;
• the tear grade is 2.

04 Collapse of precision blanked parts

The collapse angle refers to the irregular plastic deformation of the convex curve at the junction of the smooth surface, inner and outer contour plane of the fine punching parts (as seen in Figure 8).

The size of the collapse is influenced by various factors such as material thickness, material properties, part shape, back pressure, and tooth ring height. A calculation method for the collapse angle can be selected by referencing the figure below.

Generally, tE≈(5～10)S, bE≈(5～10)tE.

Calculate the value of collapse angle tE and bE

05 Burrs on precision blanked parts

Burrs are irregular projections on the edge of the blanking surface of fine blanked parts. The size of the burrs is dependent on various factors such as the material type, clearance, the condition of the die cutting edge, the depth of the die into the material, and the number of blanking cycles.

The burr generated during fine blanking is not a result of cutting, but rather an extrusion burr. The size of the burr is not only determined by its height, but also by the thickness of its root.

According to the VDI3345 standard, when the die edge is sharp, only a thin burr is produced, with a size of 0.01 to 0.08mm. On the other hand, when the die edge becomes dull, a thicker burr is produced, with a size of 0.1 to 0.3mm (as shown in the figure below).

 06 Dimensional tolerances

Fine blanking is a flow-shear process where the blanking die creates strong deformation of the metal tissue crystals, leading to separation. The type of fine blanking material affects the surface quality, dimensional accuracy, and tool life of the fine blanked parts.

The basic requirements for it are:

1. It must have good malleability and large denaturing capacity

This primarily allows the flow of material in the shear zone to continue until the end of the shear without tearing.

The best results of fine blanking are obtained with steels with a tensile strength δb ≤ 650 N/mm² and a carbon content of 0.35%.

[1] Fine blanking performance of the material

• -Tensile strength
• -Yield limits
• -Extension rate
• -Hardness

-Degree of deformation of carburizing bodies and carbides (spheronization)

[2] Deformability of materials

• -Low yield limit
• -Low tensile strength
• -High fracture elongation
• -High face shrinkage

Fine blanking materials with higher values of elongation at break and end-shrinkage possess better deformation properties. A low yield limit indicates that the material begins to flow at low pressure. The appropriate strength range for fine blanking materials is depicted in the following figure, with the carbon content represented as equivalent carbon content.

2. It must have a good organizational structure

Fine blanking materials have high requirements for their metallurgical structure. The quality of fine blanking can be significantly impacted by the metallurgical structure, even if the material used is the same but treated differently.

For carbon steel and alloy steel with a carbon content greater than 0.35%, the shape and distribution of cementite (Fe3C) play a crucial role in the surface finish of shearing.

The carbides after spheroidization, which are uniformly distributed in a fine-grained form, and the chip pearlite structure lead to a good, smooth cut surface.

The figure below shows how the different metallographic structures of carbon steel with 0.45% carbon result in different shear surface quality. On the left is the untreated pre-ferrite pearlescent structure, and on the right is the spherulitic carburized body after spheroidization.

3. Cold hardening during fine blanking

Fine blanking is a complex process that involves the extrusion and shearing of materials. The material in the shearing zone undergoes strong cold deformation, resulting in increased hardness in the cold work hardening zone compared to the hardness of the matrix.

To understand the process of fine blanking, it’s crucial to have a clear understanding of the laws of cold hardening and to determine the size, shape, and depth of cold hardening as well as its actual impact on the finished fine blanked parts.

Fig. 12 shows the cold hardening of materials during general blanking and fine blanking.

07 Selection of Fine Blanking Materials

1. Selection principle

It is important to meet the functional requirements of fine-blanked parts while also considering cost-effectiveness. This involves considering factors such as the type and availability of the material, dimensional tolerances, surface quality, and the level of difficulty in achieving precise blanking.

2. Material variety

Ferrous metals include: soft steel (C≤0.13%); unalloyed steel (0.12-1.0%C); alloy steel (0.15-0.20%C); stainless steel (C≤0.15%); fine grain steel (0.10-0.22%C).

Non-ferrous metals include: copper and copper alloys; aluminum and aluminum alloy.

Related reading: Ferrous vs Non-ferrous Metals

3. State of supply

For steel requirements:

1. Types of supply: hot-rolled strips, cold-rolled strips, flat bars, but in different states, it has annealed, softened annealed, spheroidal annealed, etc.
2. Size: it is determined by the design of the die.
3. Thickness tolerance: It should be consistent with the parts.
4. Surface quality: different rolling methods are to get different surface quality, which has pickling, sandblasting, pickling, cold-rolled, etc..
5. Metallographic organization: according to the requirements of the product parts, it is divided into three levels:

FSG I: Maximum tensile strength, without the requirement for the metallurgical organization.

FSG II: after annealing treatment, material C>0.15%, containing about 80-90% spherical carburizing bodies.

FSGIII: Softened and annealed, material C>0.15%, containing about 100% spherical carburizing body.

For non-ferrous metals copper, aluminum and their alloys have a chemical composition and rolling state requirements.

4. Fine blanking evaluation

The evaluation of fine blanking materials and their selection is shown in Table 5.

Notes:

1. Very good-ideal fine blanking material, with a high fineness of blanking surface and long die life.
2. Good-suitable fine blanking material, with the smoothness of the blanking surface and normal die life.
3. Fairly well -barely fine blanking material, when used for parts with complicated shapes, the blanking surface is torn, and the die life is short.