Category Archives: Materials

​Mazda Uses 1300 MPa (190 ksi) Cold Stamped Steel

Posted on February 11, 2019 by

​The 2019 Mazda 3 uses 1300 MPa (190,000 psi) steel for the front pillar and roof rail inners; the hinge pillar, roof rail, and side sill inner reinforcements, and the No. 2 crossmember. This cold-stampable steel was jointly developed by … Continue reading →

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​SpaceX Starship/BFR Rocket Materials

Posted on February 4, 2019 by

​​SpaceX will use 3XX stainless steel for their Starship and Super Heavy rocket booster due to better performance compared with carbon fiber over the spectrum of operating temperatures and conditions encountered. @ElonMusk shows he has more than just a passing … Continue reading →

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​​Thinner​ is not always better

Posted on January 24, 2019 by

​​In the case of electrical steels, thinner sheets improves motor efficiency – crucial to meet the needs of hybrid/electric vehicles. But more laminations need to be stamped from this thinner metal to get to the same stator height. An article … Continue reading →

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4M and EQS: 4Q 2018 Sheet Metal Industry News

Posted on January 10, 2019 by

4M and EQS publish a newsletter covering Sheet Metal Industry news. Info from 4Q2018 and how to sign up for future issues is given here. Continue reading →

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​Impact of Overseas Tooling Sourcing: A report from the Center for Automotive Research ​

Posted on December 4, 2018 by

​CAR  Director of Manufacturing, Engineering, & Technology Abe Vadhavkar writes about the impact of sourcing tools overseas on the US tool & die sector.​  ​The report​​ ​states that new tooling sourced in Low Cost Countries such as China and Taiwan may … Continue reading →

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Aluminum and Steel Battle for Supremacy in Automotive Applications

Posted on November 8, 2018 by

There are benefits and challenges associated with each metal, and automakers need to consider strength, stiffness, manufacturing, weight, and cost – and many more characteristics. Steelmakers and aluminum producers are eager to help: 2 tons of sheetmetal are purchased for … Continue reading →

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Using Test Data to Derive Product Improvements: Design Tests to Give Pertinent Quantitative Info

Posted on September 23, 2018 by

NIST and industry partners create new lab test to provide quantitative data on the scratch and damage resistance of automobile polymer clearcoat layers. Continue reading →

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Tesla Stamping and Assembly of Model 3

Posted on September 20, 2018 by

Tesla Stamping and Assembly of Model 3 Continue reading →

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Stamping Higher-Strength Steels Seminar – Sept 12/13 in Nashville

Posted on August 27, 2018 by

Join me, PMA, IRMCO, and Coe Press to learn what makes higher strength steels different and learn some strategies to process them effectively. Continue reading →

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FMEA Failure Modes & Effects Analysis in Sheet Metal Forming

Posted on August 24, 2018 by

Dimensional variability. Random splits. Surface waves. Any of these can cause big production headaches. Scrambling to fix the problems can lead to a host of other issues.  See my article on FMEA Failure Modes & Effects Analysis in the January … Continue reading →

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Terms in the Sheet Metal Industry

Posted on August 22, 2018 by

You might think that you know what you’re asking for, but when talking with your supplier, it’s important that you both use the same language to be sure you’ll get what you need. See my article on the meanings of … Continue reading →

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Limitations of Ordering AISI 1008/1010

Posted on August 20, 2018 by

Not getting what you need from your 1008/1010 #steel? Read about the limitations of ordering AISI 1008/1010, and why you might need to change to something like SAE J2329 for more consistent performance – March 2018 issue of @Metalforming from … Continue reading →

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