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More from Thomas Vacca
- From The Fabricator
Ask the experts: What sensors should progressive dies use?
- By Thomas Vacca
- Dec 3, 2020
- Bending and Forming
- Article
Stamping and progressive die tooling expert Thomas Vacca explains stamping dies, their three types of sensors, and how press and feed type affect their use.
- From The Fabricator
Ask the Stamping Expert: How can stampers maintain proper stripper clamp force?
- By Thomas Vacca
- Sep 10, 2020
- Bending and Forming
- Article
Ask the Stamping Expert columnist Tom Vacca gives advice on how stampers can maintain proper stripper clamp force.
- From The Fabricator
Ask the Stamping Expert: How can stampers increase speed and tool life?
- By Thomas Vacca
- Jul 2, 2020
- Bending and Forming
- Article
Two topics that many stampers request information about are press speed and tool life. Thomas Vacca provides advice on how to increase both.
- From The Fabricator
Ask the Stamping Expert: What’s the best way to feed light-gauge metal?
- By Thomas Vacca
- Apr 23, 2020
- Bending and Forming
- Article
While doable, push-feeding stainless steel and other light-gauge metal through the tool can be tricky. Stamping expert Tom Vacca explores an alternative—pull feeding—and the die equipment that is available.
- From The Fabricator
Ask the Stamping Expert: Helpful tips for tool and die apprentices
- By Thomas Vacca
- Feb 13, 2020
- Bending and Forming
- Article
Newcomers and trainees in the tooling industry only know what they know, and that can cause many problems, including wasted time, damaged equipment and workpieces, and even injury to themselves and others. Thomas Vacca offers safety tips and practical advice for beginners.
- From The Fabricator
Ask the Stamping Expert: How do manufacturers choose a prototype house?
- By Thomas Vacca
- Dec 12, 2019
- Bending and Forming
- Article
When picking a prototype shop, its capabilities to produce the whole part in-house are important to final part quality for manufacturers. But the shop also needs to be able to design a part that can be made quickly and cost-effectively on the production line.
- From The Fabricator
Ask the Stamping Expert: Which tool steels are best for high-speed progressive dies?
- By Thomas Vacca
- Oct 23, 2019
- Bending and Forming
- Article
Tool steel selection depends on the application and environment. Stampers need to know the steel’s mechanical properties to make the right choice.
- From The Fabricator
Ask the Stamping Expert: Where can we find skilled tool designers?
- By Thomas Vacca
- Aug 8, 2019
- Bending and Forming
- Article
If you can’t find skilled tool designers to work in your stamping shop, try starting an apprentice program for your toolmakers.
- From The Fabricator
Ask the Stamping Expert: How can I reduce blanking tonnage required?
- By Thomas Vacca
- Jun 7, 2019
- Bending and Forming
- Article
Your mechanical stamping press can be used only at a percentage of its capacity for blanking, but Thomas Vacca explains how to lower the tonnage required for the job.
- From The Fabricator
Ask the Stamping Expert: Which method of slug control is best? Part II
- By Thomas Vacca
- Mar 26, 2019
- Bending and Forming
- Article
Thomas Vacca explores the use of vacuum generators—also known as bazookas—for slug control.
- From The Fabricator
Ask the Stamping Expert: Which method of slug control is best?
- By Thomas Vacca
- Jan 24, 2019
- Bending and Forming
- Article
Thomas Vacca outlines three slug control methods that can help solve nagging slug pulling problems.
- From The Fabricator
Ask the Stamping Expert: How can we predict our tool service needs?
- By Thomas Vacca
- Dec 6, 2018
- Bending and Forming
- Article
Unpredictable tool service needs can wreak havoc on the maintenance department. Thomas Vacca explains how to solve the problem.
- From The Fabricator
Ask the Stamping Expert: Should I use stamping or machining to produce critical components?
- By Thomas Vacca
- Oct 10, 2018
- Bending and Forming
- Article
Q: What are the basic differences between stamping and machining for manufacturing critical components? What do I need to consider when choosing between the two? A: Regardless of the final component’s end use—medical, automotive, electronics—there are many things to consider when choosing...
- From The Fabricator
Ask the Stamping Expert: What kind of raw material feed is best?
- By Thomas Vacca
- Jul 27, 2018
- Bending and Forming
- Article
Tom Vacca explores the pros and cons of mechanical, air-driven, and servo-driven raw material feeds.
- From The Fabricator
Ask the Stamping Expert: How can we minimize progressive tool development costs?
- By Thomas Vacca
- Jun 2, 2018
- Bending and Forming
- Article
Q: We build and run our progressive tools in-house for manufacturing a variety of stampings for the electronics and lighting industry. Our average tool cost is $35,000 to $60,000. The problem is that sometimes the development costs approach the tool costs. We spend many hours in re-engineering to...
- Podcasting
- Podcast:
- The Fabricator Podcast
- Published:
- 03/26/2024
- Running Time:
- 67:51
This week on The Fabricator Podcast, Jason Becker, host of the Arc Junkies Podcast and owner of Underground...
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- April 30 - May 1, 2024
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- May 21 - 22, 2024
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- June 5 - 6, 2024
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- Upcoming Webcasts
Nitrogen Generation for Laser Cutting: Navigating System Design for YOUR Operation
- April 24, 2024
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- Presented By: Purity Gas