9 DIFFERENT TYPES OF SHEET METAL OPERATIONS WITH DIAGRAMS

Sheet Metal Operations

Contents show

Following are the 9 different types of sheet metal operations:

Shearing Operations

Blanking Operations

Punching Operations

Piercing Operations

Trimming Operations

Drawing Operations

Embossing Operations

Bending Operations

Squeezing Operations

1. Shearing

It is a cut in a straight line across a strip, sheet or bar. It leaves a lean edge on the piece of metal is
sheared or cut. In this operation, a sheet metal workpiece is placed or kept between two dies from one
end. And, the punch is hit at the other end of the sheet, producing a shearing effect.

Sheet metal operations – Shearing operation

It has 3 basic stages:

Plastic deformation

Fracture

Shear

a) Plastic Deformation

When a metal is placed between the upper and lower blades of the shear and pressure is applied, plastic
deformation takes place. It extends into metal for about 5 to 40% of metal thickness.

b) Fracture
At the point of greatest stress concentration fracture takes place.

c) Shear

Small fractures are found and the metal is sheared.

2. Blanking

Sheet metal operations – Blanking operation

It is an operation of cutting a whole piece from sheet metal. In which enough scrap is left all around as
shown in fig. A punch and die is applied for this type of sheet metal operation.

Read also: 22 Different Types of Lathe Machine Operations

3. Punching

Sheet metal operations – Punching operation

It is an operation of producing circular holes on a sheet of metal by a punch and die. This is the exact
opposite of blanking but the operation is nearly the same. A Punch and die are further used here such as
blanking operations.

4. Piercing

Sheet metal operations – Piercing operation

Piercing is the process in which desired shape holes are produced in a piece of sheet metal without
eliminating any material from the sheet or removing a very small amount of material as shown in the
figure. Both punch and die are also applied in this operation. The punch used in the piercing operation is
usually bullet-shaped.

5. Trimming

Trimming operation

The trimming operation is also known as shaving operation. It is a finishing operation by removing the
burrs from the cut edges is taken out in order to make edges smooth and also provide dimensional
accuracy.
 6. Drawing

It is an operation of producing thin-walled hallows or vessel shaped parts from sheet metal. It can be
divided into two categories:

Deep drawing

Shallow drawing

Sheet metal operations – Drawing operation

a) Deep Drawing

The length of depth of the object to be drawn is deeper than its width.

b) Shallow Drawing

The length of the object to be drawn is less than its width. The examples of drawing are pans, tubes and
cams.

Read also: Drilling machine – Parts, It’s Types, Operations with PDF

7. Embossing

Sheet metal operations – Embossing operation

It is the metalworking operation which is used to create raised surfaces or lettering in sheet metal. There
is no change in metal thickness during this operation.

8. Bending

It occurs when forces are applied to localized areas. Here the metal flow is uniform along the bend axis
with the inner surface in compression and outer surface in tension.

Types of bending

Edge bending
V-bending

U-bending

Offset bending

Channel bending

1. Edge Bending

Edge bending

It is a type of bending operation, In which a piece of sheet metal is fixed or held between two dies from
one end, as shown in the fig. Then the other end is forced to strike upon the punch which is free or
unfixed. Thus, the free or unfixed edge of the sheet metal piece is bent to make the forming process.

2. V-bending

V-bending

In these type of bending operation, when a piece of sheet metal is pressed between the die and the
punch; It is formed into a V-shape in the die.

3. U-bending

U-bending

In this type of a bending operation, in which when the punch is pressed by a force to move into the die,
the sheet metal piece gets formed into a U-shape.

4. Offset Bending

Offset bending

It is a type of bending operation, in which a piece of sheet metal is formed into an offset shape with the
help of a punch and die.

5. Channel Bending

Channel bending

In this type of a bending operation, in which when a force is used to the punch to move into the die, the
sheet metal piece, in between the punch and die, gets the shape according to the shape of the die and
punch i.e. a channel shape.
 9. Squeezing

It is a quick and widely used way of forming ductile metals. It has different operations such as sizing,
coining, riveting etc.

1. Sizing

Sizing operation is a squeezing operation that reduces the thickness of the metal. The sizing is done in an
open die and only the surface where the die and workpiece touch will be sized.

2. Coining

Coining operation

It is a process of pressing metal in a die so that it flows into the die space. For example Medals, Coins,
and Jewellery.

The sheet metal operation depending on the type of stress-induced:

SI.No. Stress Induced Operations

1. Shear Shearing, Blanking, Piercing and Trimming

2. TensionStretch forming

3. Compression Coining and Sizing etc

4. Tension and Compression Drawing, Bending, Forming etc.