Deep Drawing

Deep drawing (cupping) is a manucfacturing process used to create deep, seamless och round shapes from sheet metal.

When deep drawing, a tool (called a plug) punches sheet metal into a die. The sheet metal takes the same shape as the tools, commonly a round shape with a radius and depth. The most common example of this process is probably a drinking can. It is also possible to make irregular shapes and geometries, such as kitchen sinks. A rule of thumb is that when the depth exceeds the radius, deep drawing should be used.

As the sheet metal will be punched into the die, the sheet metal needs to be very resistant to both stress and tension damage. Otherwise it may be weak or even break.

Deep drawing is not entirely different from pressing, which is carried out in almost similar machine tools. Also the final result is quite much like metal spinning. I most modern machine tools these three processes can be combined.

Picture: Goodwood Metalcraft Ltd