Blanking is a crucial sheet metal fabrication process that involves cutting a flat sheet to create a flat piece or blank of specific shape and size. This process is essential in the early stages of manufacturing, providing the foundation for subsequent forming, bending, or other processes. Blanking is widely employed in industries such as automotive, aerospace, and consumer electronics to produce components with precise outlines and dimensions.
The blanking process utilizes a specialized tool, often a punch and die set, to cut the desired shape from the sheet metal. The punch applies force through the sheet, causing the material to fracture along the edges of the punch and create the blank. The shape and dimensions of the punch and die determine the final geometry of the blank, making precision in tool design crucial for achieving accurate results.