How can I Make a Drawn Slot in Sheet Metal

[barnon]

Can I produce the feature shown in the attached JPG with a 20 ton shop press? Material is 12ga steel.

Tools I have available are CNC plasma, mill, lathe, brake and shop press.

Thanks for any advice.

[fizzissist]

You might be pushing the limits with a 20ton and 12ga....but making a male mandrel and forming the pre-cut hole into a piece of die makers rubber would be worth a shot, if you're just making a prototype.

Otherwise, you've got the mill to easily make the male and female die components for a simple forming.

[barnon]

Thanks for the feedback. I would like to make something to process 100/month. My knowledge of sheet metal processing is limited. Would I be constructing a tool like this?

[keebler303]

barnon

Check google for "dimple dies". These are used to make "speed holes" in peoples race cars and rock crawlers and choppers and whatnot. They don't do quite as much as wht you have modeled there and they are round, but that should give you an idea. Lots of guys are using them on their HF shop presses.

Good Luck
Matt