The selection of material for a drawing die is aimed at the production of the desired quality and quantity of parts with the least possible tooling cost per part. This article discusses the performance of a drawing die. It contains tables that list the lubricants used for deep drawing, and the typical materials for punches and blank holders. The article describes the typical causes of wear (galling) of deep-drawing tooling. It analyzes the selection of a harder and more wear-resistant material, the application of a surface coating such as chromium plating to the finished tools, and surface treatments such as carburizing or carbonitriding for low-alloy steels or nitriding or physical vapor deposition coating for tool steels.

This article illustrates the mechanics of the deep drawing of a cylindrical cup. It discusses the fundamentals of drawing and drawability. Sheet metal is drawn in either hydraulic or mechanical presses. The article summarizes the defects in drawing and factors considered in press selection for drawing. It explains the types of dies used for drawing sheet metal and the effects of process variables and material variables on deep drawing. The process variables that affect the success or failure of a deep-drawing operation include the punch and die radii, punch-to-die clearance, press speed, lubrication, and type of restraint of metal flow used. The article describes the process of redrawing and ironing of metals. Drawing of workpieces with flanges and drawing of hemispheres are also illustrated. The article also provides information on the reducing of drawn shells, methods for expanding portions of drawn workpieces, trimming, and deep drawing using fluid-forming presses.