Nickel Stamping Standards metal stamping service

This will explain what standard custom metal stamping practices at Zakobe means. It details the exact processes and lubricants used in production of parts at Zakobe LLC.

• Tooling will be built in the simplest form possible to create the parts. Example parts will be built in a blanking tool and stack up instead of an expensive progressive tool when possible, tooling and part prices reflect that up front. If blanking tooling is insufficient and parts need to not stack up that needs to be expressed during the initial quoting phase. As well as any special requirements, packaging, or extra work required. Expect part pricing to be higher as progressive tooling runs slower to allow everything to align properly. With progressive tooling there will also be slight imperfections in the part shapes due to needing tags to hold parts for progressing and then trimming them off in the final station. These trim areas are prime areas for burrs to occur more frequently.

• We use two different styles of lubricant during stamping. One is a disappearing oil which is the most common oil we use. It can leave a film residue or some wetness to parts. The other is a water lubricant mixture which will leave residue. These products are used to help part quality and tool life. The water lubricant stamping oil is typically used on progressive tooling and especially on tools with drawing or forming operations. With both types of lubricants, we use as little as needed to produce parts to print. Special note, each production lot can and does frequently run differently in the amount of oil needed. Batches may arrive with different amounts of oil residue or more or less part stacking from previously received parts.

• Zakobe does not do any part separation or cleaning to the parts after stamping we will air dry as best, we can. We are happy to send parts wherever you would like for further separation or cleaning but that will be the end of Zakobe’s responsibility.

• Stamping in itself cannot produce burr free parts the act of stamping automatically produces a burr however miniscule it is. Zakobe holds the burr to measuring at or under 0.002” for parts that state burr free. Zakobe does not do burr removal and will gladly send it to wherever you like for burr removal. Depending on the part and material stamped if there is no note on burr requirements on print Zakobe will use prior knowledge of what has been accepted in the past for other similar parts. 

• Small run and prototype lots can be made in our Wire EDM and will have a small protrusion where the wire cuts off the parts and the parts will have EDM residue and dirt on them. In some instances, the material after cutting is thick enough for Zakobe to remove the protrusion, in these cases we will remove the protrusion. Parts will still have the EDM residue.