When you're planning a stamping project with volumes over 50,000 parts per year, the biggest decision isn't just the supplier—it's the tooling strategy.
Choosing between a Progressive Die and a Transfer Die can swing your total project cost by hundreds of thousands of dollars. But the "cheaper" tool isn't always the most profitable choice.
1. Progressive Die Stamping
In a progressive die, the metal strip is fed through a series of stations. The part stays attached to a "carrier strip" as it moves from station to station (cut, bend, form, pierce) until the final cutoff.
Pros
- Speed: Extremely fast. Can run 60 to 800+ strokes per minute (SPM).
- Lower Labor: Fully automated; one operator can watch multiple presses.
- Consistency: Excellent for tight tolerance small parts.
Cons
- Material Waste: The carrier strip is pure scrap.
- Limited Geometry: Cannot handle deep drawn parts with high depth-to-diameter ratios easily.
2. Transfer Die Stamping
In a transfer die, the part is cut from the strip first (or uses a precut blank) and is mechanically "transferred" from station to station by robotic fingers.
Pros
- Material Savings: No carrier strip needed. Can nest blanks for max yield.
- Complex Shapes: Ideal for deep drawing, tube forming, and parts that need rotation.
Cons
- Slower Speed: Typically 15-40 SPM (limited by transfer arm speed).
- Higher Tooling Cost: Transfer systems are complex and expensive to build.
The Decision Matrix
| Feature | Progressive Die | Transfer Die |
|---|---|---|
| Best For | Small, fast, high-volume parts (brackets, terminals). | Large, deep drawn, or complex shell parts. |
| Material Waste | High (Carrier strip required) | Low (Optimized nesting) |
| Tooling Cost | Moderate | High |
| Production Speed | Very High (60-800 SPM) | Moderate (15-60 SPM) |
Need Help Choosing?
Our engineers can simulate both processes to tell you exactly which one yields the lowest Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) for your specific part.
Request Tooling Consultation