Optimising the strip layout: lower material cost without process risk

For stamped parts, material is often the largest share of unit cost. A well thought-out strip layout is therefore not a detail of die design but a direct cost factor across the entire production run.

Rotating or mirroring the part can noticeably improve material usage. Rolling direction, bend lines and burr side all need checking, the tightest nesting is worthless if the forming operation then cracks.

Carrier webs must transport the strip reliably through every station. Webs that are too narrow cause strip breakage and downtime; webs that are too wide waste material. Sizing depends on sheet thickness, strength, feed pitch and the number of stations.

For running series, reviewing the strip layout pays off whenever volumes rise significantly, the material changes or a die is being reworked anyway. A few per cent of material can often be saved without touching the part geometry.