Automotive molds can generally be classified according to the following main characteristics:
1. Classification by Process Nature
a. Blanking Dies: Dies that separate material along closed or open contour lines. Examples include blanking dies, punching dies, cutting dies, notching dies, trimming dies, and slitting dies.
b. Bending Dies: Dies that bend sheet metal blanks or other workpieces along straight lines (bending lines) to obtain workpieces with specific angles and shapes.
c. Drawing Dies: Dies that form sheet metal blanks into open hollow parts, or further modify the shape and size of hollow parts.
d. Forming Dies: Dies that directly replicate the shape of the punch and die to form a blank or semi-finished workpiece, while the material itself only undergoes localized plastic deformation. Examples include bulging dies, necking dies, flaring dies, embossing dies, flanging dies, and shaping dies.
2. Classification by Process Combination
a. Single-Operation Dies: Dies that complete only one stamping operation in one stroke of the press.
b. Compound Die: A die with only one station, where two or more stamping operations are completed simultaneously at the same station in one stroke of the press.
c. Progressive Die (also called Continuous Die): A die with two or more stations in the blank feeding direction, where two or more stamping operations are completed sequentially at different stations in one stroke of the press.
3. Classification by Product Processing Method
Based on the different product processing methods, dies can be divided into five main categories: punching and shearing dies, bending dies, drawing dies, forming dies, and compression dies.
a. Punching and Shearing Dies: These dies work by shearing action. Common types include shearing dies, blanking dies, punching dies, trimming dies, edge-forming dies, drawing dies, and cutting dies.
b. Bending Dies: These dies bend flat blanks into an angled shape. Depending on the shape, precision, and production volume of the part, there are various types of dies, such as ordinary bending dies, cam bending dies, hemming dies, arc bending dies, slit bending dies, and twisting dies.
c. Drawing Dies: Drawing dies are used to form flat blanks into seamless containers with a bottom.
d. Forming Dies: These dies use various local deformation methods to change the shape of a blank. Types include punch forming dies, flange forming dies, necking forming dies, hole flange forming dies, and round flange forming dies.
e. Compression Dies: These dies use strong pressure to deform metal blanks into the desired shape. Types include extrusion dies, embossing dies, stamping dies, and end-pressing dies