Die Blocks

FACTORS INFLUENCE THE DESIGN OF A DIE

BLOCK

PIECE PART SIZE

STOCK THICKNESS
INTRICACY OF THE PIECE PART CONTOUR
TYPE OF TOOL
MACHINARY AVILABLE FOR MANUFACTURING THE TOOL

SOLID DIES
MADE UP OF NON SHRINKING TOOL STEELS
HARDENED & TEMPERED TO 58-62HRc

SOLID DIES
CONSIDERATIONS
Critical nature of the Dimensions involved
Extreme Pressures & Wear conditions while Shearing
Sheet thickness
Press force
Strength & Life of the Die:
Sufficient wall thickness at the weakest points
Sufficient Die thickness according to the Severity of the specific
operations.

DIES THICKNESS

DIE BUSHES
These are inserted in Mild Steel retainer plate.

DIE BUSHES
Advantages:
Easily replaceable.
Reduces cost of the die manufacturing.
Applications:
In large piercing dies.

SPLIT or SECTIONAL DIE BLOCKS

These are the dies having more than One Section.

Deciding Factors of SOLID or SPLIT DIES

SPLIT DIES

Locating & Clamping of Die Sections

Considerations
Tilting Due to Downward Thrust.
Lateral Displacement due to Lateral Thrust created by
the Punching Action.0
Methods:
For Thin Stock materials, Dowels and Screws.
As the Stock material thickness increases, Need of
Nesting arises.

NESTING
METHODS OF NESTING
Nesting in Die set pockets.
Nesting in Retainer Plate, which is of Mild steel.
Nesting in the above methods incorporating Liners.

NESTING IN DIE SET with LINERS

NEST BLOCKS
Advantages:
They do not weaken the die set.
Can be easily hardened for heavy work.
Can be easily ground, when Die needs to reground.
As the Whole assembly of Die Sections are ground
together.
Disadvantage
Costly compared to pocket milled Die set type
nesting, as the separate nest block has to be
machined & clamped to the die set.

NESTING in Retainer Plate

Locating & Keying of Circular Sections

DIE INSERT

CARBIDE DIES
Die Material: Tungsten Carbide.

Applications:
Blanking, Piercing, Trimming, Forming, Drawing, and
Swaging operation.
Where production rates are high.
Parts having Close tolerances.

CARBIDE DIES
DESIGN PRINCIPLE:
DRAW RADII or APPROACH ANGLES.
PUNCH & DIE CLEARANCE.
RELIEF

ALL Remains the same as that of the Steel Dies.

Supporting of Carbide Dies inserts:
Inserts must be supported externally by pressing or shrinking
them into a Hardened steel case.

Die Block Thickness

According to Rule of Thump
1.
Die thickness = 19mm, for Blank perimeter<= 75mm.
2.
Die thickness = 25mm, for Blank perimeter= 75mm to 250mm.
3.
Die thickness = 31mm, for Blank perimeter>250mm.
This rule is for die blocks made of tool steels
Note: If the die block is unnecessary thick

Adds the cost of manufacture.

Results in an excessive shut height.

Angular Clearance:

No land Easy to produce by Machine

With Land Easy to Produce by Bench work.

Die-Block Thickness
Stock
thickness
(mm)

Production Quantity (million)

5

25

50

100

500

Unlimited

0.375

9.375

12.5

15.625

19

25

28

0.775

12.5

15.625

19

25

28

28

2.325

15.625

19

25

18

31

34

3.125

19

25

28

31

31

34

4.675

25

28

28

31

34

37.5

6.25
31 / tough Stock,
31 the die thickness
34 will be increased
37.5 by 3 mm.
37.5
If a Laminated /31
Extremely hard
If a Bakelite, Brass / other similar soft materials, the die thickness will be reduced by 3 mm.

Fastening of Die Block

It is usually chosen by Personal & Practical Judgement.
According to one Empirical Rule,
Screw Diameter = 0.5t, for T<= 19mm
= 0.4t, for T>=19mm
Dowel Pins:
Along with screws, dowels pins are also used for
alignment purposes.
They are usually located near diagonally opposite corners
of the die block, for maximum locating effect.
Diameter of the Dowel = Outside dia. Of the fastening
screws.