Some common soft tooling options used for rapid prototyping of sheet metal deep draw stamping parts:
CNC-Machined Soft Tools:
These are tools made of softer materials like aluminum, low-carbon steel, or polymer composites.
They can be quickly machined on a CNC mill to create prototype stamping dies and punch tools.
CNC-machined soft tools allow for rapid iteration and design changes during the prototyping process.
They are cost-effective and can be used for low-volume production.
3D-Printed Soft Tools:
Advances in additive manufacturing (3D printing) have made it possible to create prototype stamping tools using various materials like photopolymers, thermoplastics, and even metal powders.
3D-printed soft tools offer a high degree of design flexibility and can be produced quickly, often within days.
They are well-suited for complex part geometries and can be used for low-volume prototyping and testing.
Urethane Cast Soft Tools:
Urethane casting is a process where a flexible, resilient urethane material is poured into a mold to create prototype stamping tools.
Urethane cast tools can be produced relatively quickly and inexpensively, making them suitable for rapid prototyping.
They offer good durability and can be used for limited production runs, as well as for testing and evaluation of part designs.
Silicone Rubber Soft Tools:
Silicone rubber molds can be used to create prototype stamping tools, especially for complex part geometries.
Silicone molds can be fabricated quickly and are relatively inexpensive, making them a cost-effective option for rapid prototyping.
Silicone rubber tools are flexible and can be used for low-volume production, as well as for part testing and evaluation.
These soft tooling options provide manufacturers and designers with the ability to quickly create and iterate on prototype sheet metal deep draw stamping parts, helping to accelerate the product development process and reduce time-to-market.