What is a Progressive Die?

Progressive Dies are essentially sheet metal forming and trimming automation units that use the force and motion of a punch press to create a sheet metal part from flat stock to the finished part in several steps called progressions.
Typically the process starts with trimming the outer shape of the sheet metal part with the exception on an area used to hold the part within the strip (or stock) to allow the part to be moved from one progression to the next. After the trimming is done typically the next step is to form the part. The final step is the cut off, a cut that separates the part from the strip.
Progressive Tools or Dies are more expensive than single form tools or blank tools, but they offer the benefit to create a finished part within one tool and provide the repeatability only achieved using automation. The in initial tooling cost will be higher but thus reward the customer with lower part prices, provided the desired quantity is high enough to enable the build of a progressive die, typically this is above 10K quantities.

The image shows the lower section of a progressive Die.