Here the “blanks” for the die striking are being stamped out. The skeleton area is where blanks have already been stamped out.  The solid sheet is where more will be stamped out.

A closer look at the blanks and the sheet from which they were stamped or "blanked" out.

The blanks going into the oven to be annealed.  This process softens them. The process of rolling down the metal and stamping it out has hardened the metal.  The softer the metal is the easier it will be to raise the image when die-struck.  For this purpose the blanks are heated to a high temperature for a specified period of time.  This will greatly soften the metal and make successful die-striking much easier.  

A close-up look at the die in which the blanks are going to be “struck”.

The die in the hydraulic press loaded with a blank.

A steel block is placed on top.  When the hydraulic press “squeezes”, it will push from the bottom and the top imparting a force of many tons thus forcing the metal into all the “nooks” and “crannies” of the die taking on the full image in the die.  In the example here, the piece being die-struck has an image only on one side.  Hence the upper steel cylinder’s surface is flat and smooth.  However, it is not infrequent that a piece will be die-struck with images on both sides.  In that case, of course, both top and bottom dies will have images.

Safety doors close as the hydraulic press squeezes exerting a force of many tons.  This particular piece is done under 120 tons of pressure.

In fact it is flatten so much that some of the metal has moved over the surface of the die outside of the actual shape of the piece.  Being jammed firmly into the die, it is necessary to pry it up out of the die.

Here you see the piece removed sitting on top of the die. 

Here you see a few pieces after removal.  You will notice that the die-striking process has created a substantial flange around the edge of the piece.

This flange must now be removed.  To do this the piece is placed back in the blanking tool.  

And once again it is stamped.  This step of stamping to remove the excess flange is called “trimming.”

Here you see the process after a few pieces have been trimmed.  You will note that the trimmed excess flanges build up on the male part of the trimming tool.  These will be removed later.  The trimmed pieces fall into the catch pan under the bed of the press.

Here you see the finished die-struck pieces after the final trimming.  They are now ready to continue along the manufacturing process of cleaning, assembly and finishing that will be required by the design and needs of the particular piece and order.