Today, the majority of mass-produced parts used in a wide range of industries and for a variety of purposes are formed using metal stamping techniques. Over the years, metal workers and engineers have come to understand the properties of metal, allowing them to optimize the type of metals or metal alloys to use in each specialized stamping process. This knowledge is a significant part of what makes the engineers at Thomas Engineering Company experts in the production of quality parts with precision metal stamping in Minneapolis, MN.

There are several properties of each type of metal and metal alloy that our engineers can recommend to help our customers choose the best material for the part and stamping process. Some of the basic properties considered include:

Ductility: Each metal has a unique ability to withstand and deform under stress without permanent damage or fatigue to the molecular structure. The measurement of a metal’s plasticity—AKA ductility—allows engineers to choose the material best-suited for how it will be deformed during the stamping process and the stress it will endure as a functioning part.

Conductivity: The conductive ability of a metal or metal alloy is measured in both thermal and electrical conductivity. Parts we produce for the electronics industry often use copper and copper alloys which have high rates of electronic conductivity and function well in the stamping of electronic connectors. Our engineers also consider the fact that metals with high thermal conductivity will serve a much different purpose than metals with a low thermal conductivity.

Density: The volume and mass of a metal is measured as its density. This essentially means that a heavier metal will have a higher density than a lighter metal. However, density is not to be confused with strength. In fact, many metals and metal alloys with high densities have a lower strength than those with a lower density. For example, gold has a high density and low strength, whereas aluminum has a low density and high strength in comparison.

Strength: Measured in several ways, strength is used to determine how a metal will behave under tension, compression, or other forms of stress. This is different from ductility, which determines how much a metal can be deformed and maintain structure. Strength measures a metal’s resistance to deforming stresses.

These basic properties of a metal are just some of the information engineers need to use to determine which metal will provide optimal performance as a specific part. Corrosion resistance, hardness, and visual properties are also considered when choosing a material.

For more information about the materials used in precision metal stamping in Minneapolis, MN, contact Thomas Engineering Company at (763) 533-1501.