As we know, most precision parts are standard parts. They are normal and used widely. But some of the precision parts are specially shaped. These custom special parts are used in some cold stamping and forming mold or in some automated systems.
Precision parts have various kinds of types, as we talked about before, punches and dies, cores and cavities, ejectors pins and sleeves, guide pins and bushings, mold inserts, and mode basements, etc. Most of them have standard sizes, you can buy the standard parts on the Misumi platform.
But most of them also have custom-made shaped parts according to some industries’ custom products or newly-developed products for special requirements. For example, the automotive industry, medical industry, electronics, and semi-conductor industry, especially the rectangular connector and terminal block industry. These are precision Individual parts used in stamping dies and injection molds.
There are also some special precision parts used in automated machine systems. A part of them is mechanical parts and checking fixture components. They need to be machined in special shapes and in high-precision requirements. As they need to be assembled into the automation system. These automated systems may be automatic assembly machines or SMT/SMD/SOP/SIP/DIP Packages for some IC microelectronics parts or PCB chips.
Among these precision parts, the custom made cutting punches are one of the most items. As custom parts mostly may be hardware parts, not plastic parts. They need to be made in the cold stamping molds, stamping dies, metal forming molds, metal blanking dies or press dies, etc.
They do not like plastic parts with a set of injection molds, then can be bulk produced. These hardware parts need to be punched (or called stamped) piece by piece in the cold stamping process.
The hardness of the cutting punches is important. hard metal is usually used, like cemented tungsten carbide, or high-speed steel. Their hardness requires HRA 88~95 (carbide) or HRC 63~68 (Powder high-speed steel or High-speed steel). So the carbide cutting punches are mostly required. There are standard parts, and also custom made parts.
The hard metal is comparatively difficult to cut and process. The custom-made hard metal precision parts are more difficult to process and machine. As these special carbide parts also need high precision. We need to use high-end machining equipment, like Profile Grinder and High Precision EDM. And also we need experienced and skilled technical workers to operate the machining equipment. Then the high hardness high-precision custom tungsten carbide punches can be made.
Except for the punches, there are also some other special parts, for example, carbide wear parts, aluminum alloy parts, fixture parts, etc.
All in all, custom made specially shaped precision parts need a spirit of artists to do it. Together with advanced equipment and sophisticated technicians, then we can make them well.