Deep draw metal forming is a process where flat sheet metal is formed into more complex components, such as battery cell cans. A disc of sheet metal is blanked from a coil of sheet metal in the first station of a series of dies. The flat blank is then cupped by the "nose" of a punch and pressed into a die to form a cup.
During the drawing process the metal is formed under significant pressure. The material wall sees tension forces and the blank flange sees forces of compression. These forces are manipulated by the design of the tooling as the material is stretched by the “nose” of the punch into each die. These forces tend to thin the shell wall and thicken the shell flange. Depending on the material, the ratio of starting wall stock to finished wall stock, and the length to diameter ratio, a varying number of draws are required to create the basic shape of the part.
The drawing process can create stepped diameters or other unique features in the part. The drawing action also work hardens the material, making the finished seamless part stronger than the base material. Tooling is added to the basic dies to create other features such as: coining, bottom piercing, multiple side piercing, extruding, embossing, marking, burnishing, ironing, chamfering, flange forming, shaped flange trimming, beading, reverse drawing, and rib forming. The deep draw process produces a strong, thin wall container in aluminum, steel, stainless steel, or other metals.