Stamping is a versatile metal-forming process that allows manufacturers to create a wide variety of parts. Knowing the common shapes available through stamping is helpful when you need metal components for your product in the US.
Let’s break down some of the most frequently stamped geometries and how they’re used.
Circles and Discs
Circular stampings like washers, tabs, and bushings are ubiquitous in manufacturing. Flat round washers are one of the most basic stampings and they come in numerous sizes for countless applications.
Discs are circular stampings often used as spacers, separators, or grommets. Whether you need spacers under a bolt or tabs on a storage container, circles are a very flexible shape.
Rectangles and Squares
Rectangular and square stampings are common for structural components or surfaces that require flat planes. They’re often used as small brackets, panels, bases, and signage.
Rectangle shims are another popular rectangular stamping for leveling or spacing applications. Squares work well for frames, inserts, or surfaces that interface at right angles.
Clips and Ears
Stamped clips and ears are small parts designed to grip, connect, or position other components. Common uses include clamping clips, bracket ears, contact clips, and tabs for assembly.
Their small size but oversized strength makes them well-suited for these attachment roles. Many different clip designs can be stamped depending on your fastening needs.
Expansion Plugs and Slugs
These cylindrical stampings feature a waist or undercut section to facilitate expansion. Expansion plugs are driven into holes to attach or anchor other parts mechanically.
Similar expansion slugs swell outward for press or snap fits in holes or cavities. They provide an economical way to insert and affix components in applications like cabinets, fixtures, and enclosures.
Need Stampings for Your Project?
Are you struggling to source the right stampings for your products? Minneapolis Washer and Stamping, Inc. is ready to be your partner in innovation. For over 85 years, we’ve been perfecting our processes to craft nearly any stamp geometry with speed, precision, and reliable quality.
Our experienced engineers live for the challenge of realizing even the most complex stamped parts. Contact us today to get the best stamping solutions by producing custom-stamped components.