Which process involves cutting out a piece of metal into a desired shape and size?

Blanking is a manufacturing process used to cut out a specific shape from a sheet of metal. During this process, a die is used to punch the desired shape out of the material, effectively creating a "blank" that can be further processed into a finished part. The blanking operation is essential for producing components of various sizes and shapes in a cost-effective manner, especially when dealing with high-volume production.

In blanking, the focus is on removing a shape that will become a part, while the leftover material (known as the scrap) is typically discarded or recycled. This process is particularly valuable in industries where precision and efficiency in cutting shapes from flat materials are required, such as in automotive or electronics manufacturing.

Other processes, like broaching, involve removing material to create specific features or profiles, slitting refers to cutting a strip of material lengthwise, and dinking usually means making minor adjustments or notching rather than cutting a piece to a specified shape and size. Each process serves different functions, but blanking is uniquely suited for creating shaped cutouts efficiently from metal sheets.