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Choosing between turning, cold forging and stamping
Geometry and quantity decide the process, and quoting a part on the wrong one can double its price.
Turning suits parts that are essentially rotational: shafts, spindles, adapters, anything where the main features share an axis. CNC turning covers low and medium volumes; a Swiss lathe takes over when the part is small, slender and needed in quantity.
Cold forging suits high volumes of a shape that can be formed rather than cut. It is expensive to tool and very cheap per piece, which makes it a volume decision rather than a geometry one. Below the break-even quantity it is the wrong answer even when the shape suits it.
Stamping suits flat and formed sheet parts: brackets, clips, washers, anything where the thickness is constant and the shape is in plan. Quoting a stamped bracket as a machined one, or a machined spindle as a forged one, is where most price surprises come from.
Send the drawing with the quantity and we will say which route we would use and why, so the price can be judged against the method rather than taken on trust.
Specifications
| Turning | Rotational parts; Swiss lathe for small slender parts in quantity |
|---|---|
| Cold forging | High volume, expensive tooling, very low piece cost |
| Stamping | Flat and formed sheet parts of constant thickness |
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DIN and ISO standard parts, and when a special is cheaper
A standard part is cheaper until the standard does not fit, at which point a special is cheaper than an assembly designed around a compromise.
Material and surface treatment selection
A grade that machines more easily may corrode sooner, and that trade-off belongs to the buyer rather than the supplier.
What a drawing needs to carry for a firm quote
Material grade, quantity, critical features, finish and any standard reference, plus a sample where one exists.
Have a drawing ready
Send the drawing with the material, the quantity and the finish you need. You will get a price, a process and a lead time, and a free sample before volume production.