Automotive stamping process

　　Stamping is the process of forming sheet metal parts using molds according to design requirements. Stamping technology plays an important role in automotive manufacturing and is the first step in vehicle manufacturing.

　　At present, the vast majority of car bodies are made of steel plates and alloys, which are formed using stamping technology to create the desired appearance for designers. The stamped components include: left/right front fender, left/right outer panel, rear of side wall (left/right rear fender), four doors, top cover, trunk panel, floor, cowl panel, etc.

　　The three elements of stamping: stamping equipment, stamping molds, and stamping plates.

　　Stamping equipment is the so-called stamping machine, which can achieve operations such as cutting, punching, bending, riveting, and forming. The selection of stamping equipment is generally based on production quantity, equipment size, etc. Generally speaking, the stamping equipment of the whole vehicle factory is divided into 2500 tons, 2000 tons, 1600 tons, 1000 tons, 800 tons, 500 tons, etc.

　　Stamping molds are an important component of the production of various industrial products, which shape raw materials with specific shapes. Mold has become an important indicator of the development level of modern industry and one of the important indicators to measure a country's manufacturing level.

　　Stamping molds can be divided into four basic units: punching, bending, deep drawing, and forming. According to the degree of process combination, it can also be divided into single process molds, composite molds, continuous molds, etc. In the design phase, cost factors should be considered, and it is necessary to minimize the number of molds. Changes and modifications to molds should be recorded to prevent unnecessary trouble.

　　Stamped sheet metal: The vehicle body is generally made of low-carbon steel, and the framework and cover parts of the vehicle body are mostly made of steel plate stamping. The special steel plate for the vehicle body has the characteristics of deep drawing delay and less prone to cracking. According to different positions of the vehicle body, multiple galvanized steel plates are used for areas prone to rust, such as fenders, top covers, etc.

　　Some parts that bear high stress use high-strength steel plates, such as radiator support beams, upper edge beams, B-pillars, etc. The commonly used thickness of steel plates for car body structures is 0.6mm-3mm, and most components use a thickness of 0.8mm-1.0mm.