This is the most common question we get from OEM clients and prospects alike.
“When and why should I start investing in progressive dies?” So without further ado, here’s our answer.
For the why, it’s simple. Progressive dies can dramatically lower your fabrication costs over just CNC options.
Now let’s talk about when to invest in progressive dies.
The 3 main factors
So when it comes to tooling, there are 3 main factors to consider:
- Your production volume
- Complexity of the metal parts
- Size of metal parts
The first additional factor is the complexity of the parts. There are some metal parts that cannot be manufactured without a die. For example, if there are too many operations/steps required that CNC fabrication cannot handle or cost too much to produce (blanking, followed by multiple bending operations) OR the size of the parts being way too small to handle. This is where you can strongly benefit from using dies.
And the second factor is the size of your metal parts. And as the part size grows so will the dies and resulting costs. For example, we have a customer, a big fortune 500 company, who paid over $30,000 for a die to produce only 500 pieces! Why? Because being a large (approx. 24” x 24”) piece, with integral & continuous 1” deep drawn sidewalls, it was the only way to produce such a part.
In short, using dies is a matter of understanding these 3 factors and figuring out the simplest, best and most cost-effective way to produce your metal components quickly and reliably.
Other use cases for progressive dies
Being in the metal stamping & CNC fabrication business for nearly 75 years, we’ve seen it all.
And you know what? There is no “magic quantity” or “formula” when it comes to using progressive dies. It all depends on the product’s annual volume, size and complexity. Every product and application is different. The reality? It’s really a case by case scenario.
For example, tooling up for a small (e.g. 2” x 4”) simple bracket may cost less than $5000, and be justified at relatively low volumes as the part cost could be as little as 30% (being made from coil and in a single operation) versus CNC metal fabrication techniques with little to no tooling, but requiring the blank to be laser cut or punched using a CNC machine, followed by bending as a secondary operation.
Another common example is that it may take several dies to yield a given part. It may be that our dies may be used for the first and second operation, serving as the foundation of your part, requiring you only to pay for the third and final die.
Now if you don’t think you have the volume to benefit from a progressive die (or other types of dies), don’t worry. Your best bet is to find a “hybrid manufacturer” that offers both CNC Metal Fabrication and Metal Stamping capabilities (this is important for cost-savings); showing them your designs, lot qty(s) you would like quoted, as well as your Estimated Annual Usage (EAUs). Knowing this, your manufacturer having their own die designers and in-house toolroom can recommend the optimal solution or even offer multiple cost-effective solutions; allowing you to make the best possible decisions. Discover more about our Hybrid Manufacturing Approach.
Own your dies and store them at Tripar ($7500/Year $0 FREE)
Yes, you heard that right! At Tripar we own 1600+ dies that any OEM client can use.
If we have an existing die that yields a part similar to your design, and you are flexible with your design; you may be able to benefit from that die, potentially paying only for die modification costs. If together we can find a way to modify your design to take advantage of our die, you can potentially save tens of thousands of dollars in upfront die costs. You use what we have and only pay for the die modifications. That’s another advantage of working with a flexible “open tooled” die manufacturer. And the best part is?
When you invest in Tripar’s in-house toolroom and die manufacture, we will maintain your dies for life for as long as you keep ordering the parts that use it. We will store, maintain, fix and repair your dies free-of-charge as our service to you. That’s the AAA die service we offer all our clients. You can enjoy Tripar’s in-house toolroom without the headaches of dealing and repairs your own dies. We take care of it all.
Wondering if your business is ready for progressive dies?
