Stamping die may be conveniently classified according to their function: those used to cut metal and those used to form metal. Cutting operations including blanking, trimming, shaving, cutoff, shearing, piercing, slitting, perforating, lancing, extruding, notching, and nibbling. Forming operations include a variety of processes, which are usually grouped under the general heading of bending or forming or squeezing or drawing. Let's understand the classification of stamping die.

1. Conventional die. These consist of one or more mating pairs of rigid punches and die block. Additional auxiliary equipment may be added to increase the pressworking versatility. Conventional dies include single-operation or simple die, compound or combination die, progressive die, transfer die, and multiple die.

Some die sets are designed to perform a single pressworking operation, which may include any of the operations listed under cutting or forming. Such dies are called single-operation dies or simple dies. One operation is accomplished by a single stroke of the press.

2. Compound or combination die. These will be used when two or more operation are performed at one station. In mass-production operations, compound dies are more economical than a series of single operation dies, and they are usually accurate.

3. Progressive die. Progressive dies are used for high-production applications. In this case, coil stock or flat strip is fed from station to station. The die performs work at some or all of the stations during each press stroke. When all the work has been completed, the work is cut off and unloaded. Progressive die is generally expensive to construct. In addition, the cost of the required auxiliary equipment is high. Progressive dies are usually set up on automatic presses with a scrap cutter, feeder, straightener, and uncoiler.

4. Transfer die. Transfer dies are used to produce parts which, because of their general configuration, are difficult to feed from station to station in progressive die. Individual precut blanks are first prepared by feeding coil stock into a press. Additional cutting and forming operations on the separate workpiece blank are then performed by mechanically feeding each blank from station to station. Like progressive dies, transfer dies and their related equipment (presses,special attachments, and feeding devices, etc.) are expensive. Their use is recommended only in cases of high-quantity production.

5. Multiple die. Multiple dies are also used in mass production. Such dies produce two or more workpieces at each stroke of the press. It is possible to produce pairs of right-hand and left-hand parts, duplicate parts, or unrelted parts. Multiple dies may consist of two or more single-operation dies or multiple of compound dies. Advantages of multiple dies may include saving in material resulting from more efficient blank layout, and reduction of labor costs. The leading disadvantages are increased costs in die construction and in setup and maintenance.

Above are the classification of stamping die.