Advanced Tooling Improves Punch Performance in Stainless Steel

January 2011

Advanced Tooling Improves Punch Upcoming Customer Events: Performance In Stainless Steel Wilson Wheel Classes Applications.

There's no question that punching Feb. 15, 2011 White Bear Lake, MN high tensile strength materials Mar. 29, 2011 White Bear Lake, MN such as stainless steel is likely to produce excessive galling and accelerate wear to your punches. Lean Seminars For these tough applications, Wilson Tool offers a variety of Mar. 3, 2011 White Bear Lake, MN advanced tooling options designed to improve punching performance and significantly Upcoming Trade Shows: increase the life of your punches. EMAQH Choose a Tougher Tool Steel Wilson Tool's exclusive Ultima® Mar. 27, 2011 Buenos Aires, Argentina premium tool steels are engineered to significantly CIMT increase wear resistance over conventional tool steels. Punches and dies made from Ultima® tool steel set a new benchmark for durablity April 25, 2011 Beijing, China and performance, dramatically improving tool life when punching materials that are abrasive or have high tensile strength. Ultima tool steels excel in applications where ordinary punches wear quickly and are ideal for long-run jobs and significantly reduces micro chipping, where cutting edge failure most often begins.

Consider a Specialty Coating Specialty coatings are an effective defense against some of the most common problems that occur when punching stainless steel. Wilson Tool offers a number of coatings designed to solve these problems and increase the life of your tooling. Our state-of-the-art Optima® coating resists galling in stainless and galvanized steel and is unaffected by sharpening – outlasting untreated tools by as much as 5-7 times. Whereas our Slip-Max™ coating has proven effective in resolving even the most challenging stripping problems with punching or forming stainless steel and aluminum. Design Tooling for the Application Wilson Tool Tube Tool geometry can be as important as material and coating when punching a very narrow shape or small round hole in stainless steel. It is important to let your tooling engineer know when you plan to run both stainless and mild steel. We take special precautions in tool design when stainless steel is involved.

For instance, when you have an especially brutal operation (for example: .080 diameter in .105 stainless steel) we recommend going with a one hole cluster where the piercing insert has special geometry and is made of Ultima tool steel with an Optima coating. We offer cost effective replaceable inserts for this type of application.

When punching or forming stainless steel, the tonnage involved may Are You Lean Enough? effect tool design. This can be 1.5 times greater than mild steel or Join Wilson Tool for an upcoming Lean even more if the stainless steel is quarter or half hard. With higher Fabrication Seminar and gain valuable punching tonnage and more shock, die thickness on the different information on the principals of Lean styles of tooling become a consideration. The tonnage can be Manufacturing specifically designed for sheet reduced by shear or staggered heights in a cluster application. metal fabricators.

For more recommendations for punching and forming stainless steel, contact your Wilson Tool sales representative today.

PRODUCT PROFILE Heavy-Duty Hemming Dies Withstand Rigors of Bending Stainless Steel

Bending high-tensile strength materials such as stainless steel may result in premature fatigue or cracking of press brake dies. Wilson Tool has developed a European style heavy-duty hemming die to handle tougher materials and prolong the life of the die. Wilson's heavy-duty European style hemming die (part #42608) produces a smooth edge, making stainless steel parts even more durable.

Wilson Tool also offers three different sized replacement v-blocks for the two-stage hemming die. In addition to the traditional sizes offered, a .394" v-opening has been added in a heavy duty style. Part #43528 is effectively .500" taller and .250" wider than the original style die. The dies are also treated with Wilson's patented Nitrex® process to give them a 70 HRC working surface and rust prohibitive qualities.

For more information about the benefits of heavy-duty hemming dies, contact your Wilson Tool sales representative. TOOLING TIP Q: Is there a simple, inexpensive way to reduce stripping when punching or forming stainless steel?

A: For applications involving high-tensile materials like stainless steel, Wilson Tool recommends using a lubricant such as Cutmax 570. This is an oil-based lubricant which can be applied manually to reduce stripping in cutting and forming applications. Applying a lubricant may also increase productivity by allowing faster cutting and provide longer tool life by reducing wear. Wilson Tool offers Cutmax 570 in small quantities for a nominal fee.