This page compares fineblanking to other metal forming processes. It provides a brief explanation of fineblanking's relative advantages and disadvantages when compared to these processes - as well as a cost comparison. The other metal forming processes are:

Conventional Stamping
Machining
Powder Metal
Casting
Metal Injection Molding (MIM)

Fineblanking benefits when compared to conventional stamping:

• Cleanly sheared edges of fineblanked part vs. extensive die-break in stamped part.
• Superior flatness.
• Tighter dimensional tolerances.
• Smaller holes and thinner web sections created in fineblanking often eliminate secondary machining in stamped components.
• Fineblanking, which can make very small parts, is often a more effective process than conventional stamping for parts over 0.250" (6.35mm) thick.

Fineblanking disadvantages when compared to conventional stamping:

• Cost - if no secondary operations are required to meet specifications, stamping generally will be less expensive.

Cost Comparison:

• Generally, if a part can be made to the specification by conventional stamping, conventional stamping will cost somewhat less than fineblanking. Where fineblanking can eliminate the need for secondary operations in a stamped component or meet dimensional requirements that stamping cannot create, fineblanking will provide more value (lower piece price).
• Tooling costs are comparable between fineblanking and conventional stamping.

Fineblanking benefits when compared to machining:

• Fineblanking can provide lower cost if part can be made to specification with little or no machining.
• More repeatable dimensional controls, particularly with respect to location of features to each other.

Fineblanking disadvantages when compared to machining:

• Can yield tighter dimensional controls in machining.
• Machining can create intricate shapes/geometries that fineblanking cannot create.
• Machining generally has significantly lower tooling costs than fineblanking.

Cost Comparison:

• Fineblanked parts will be less expensive than fully machined components. Fineblanking can also save money (piece price) - when compared with a fully machined component - by providing a near net shape blank, which requires little machining.

Fineblanking benefits when compared to powder metal:

• Tighter dimensional tolerances - due to effects of sintering process on powder metal parts.
• Fineblanked parts made with rolled stock are stronger than powder metal components. Often fineblanked components can be made with less volume due to their strength relative to powder metal. This can provide weight savings.

Fineblanking disadvantages when compared to powder metal:

• Powder metal can create parts with multi-levels and complicated geometries that cannot be created in fineblanked components.
• Little or no scrap generated in powder metal process. These savings can be significant when using high-cost raw materials.

Cost Comparison:

• Piece price and tooling costs are comparable between fineblanking and powder metal components. Each part must be evaluated for lowest piece price if both fineblanking and powder metal are capable for that application.

Fineblanking benefits when compared to casting:

• Fineblanking can provide tighter dimensional tolerances than casting.
• Fineblanked parts made with rolled stock are stronger and less porous than cast components. Often fineblanked components can be made with less volume due to their strength relative to castings. This can provide weight savings.

Fineblanking disadvantages when compared to casting:

• Casting can create parts with multi-levels and complicated geometries that cannot be created in fineblanked components.

Cost Comparison:

• Piece price and tooling costs are less for fineblanking when compared with casting - if both processes can make the same part.

Fineblanking benefits when compared to MIM:

• Fineblanking can provide tighter dimensional tolerances than MIM primarily due to effects of sintering process on MIM parts.
• Fineblanked parts made with rolled stock are stronger and less porous than MIM components.

Fineblanking disadvantages when compared to MIM:

• MIM can create parts with multi-levels and complicated geometries that cannot be created in fineblanked components.
• Little or no scrap generated in MIM. These savings can be significant when using high-cost raw materials.

Cost Comparison:

• Generally, if a part can be made by fineblanking, it will be less expensive than the same part made by MIM. MIM can be cost effective if it can produce a part with little or no secondary machining required.