The use of forming applications provide fabricators with several competitive advantages allowing fabricators to:

• Expand operations
• Increase efficiency
• Eliminate of secondary operations
• Increase machine up time
• Reduce tool wear

So why not expand the capabilities of your turret with Special Assemblies from Mate Precision tooling? Our Special Assemblies are designed with high performance features for extended service life in the most extreme operating conditions. Most assemblies include fully interchangeable components to minimize machine downtime and maximize productivity.

Mate knows speed is important to our customers, so we make it easy for you with a large inventory of Thick Turret and Trumpf-style Special Assemblies in-stock and ready for immediate delivery. Our lightening fast quotation response rate—99% same day—ensures you receive your information quickly. Mate’s delivery times are fast…and getting faster.

If you have a particular sheet metal forming challenge, let Mate’s expert consultancy solve it for you. Our team of Applications Specialists has over 170 combined years of sheet metal experience to solve your application problems. View our innovative Special Applications Customer Gallery to see how we’ve helped others.

We've also developed our Technical Solutions Guide that's filled with fabricating tips, techniques and special applications ideas.  To request your copy of Mate's Technical Solutions Guide, email us at: marketing@mate.com.

To send us the Special Assembly specifications to fit your needs, you can:

• E-mail details of your special assembly, including graphic or CAD files to: orders@mate.com
• Fax details of your special assembly to:763.421.0285 (800.541.0285)
• You can also use the Special Assembly Fill-In Drawings or download the Special Assembly Order Form .

Finally, we also know that customers want forming tools that work right out of the box. That’s why ALL Mate Special Assemblies are fully tested before leaving our facility to guarantee your uptime.

Card Guide	Use: As a retainer for printed circuit boards.
	Typical Application: Material thickness from 0.040(1.00) to 0.078(2.00). Maximum recommended top-to-top height 0.125(3.20). Comments: Length of the card guide is dependent upon station size and machine tonnage. Also available as a continuous type form to increase productivity.
Cluster	Use: To produce multiple holes with minimal hits.	back to top
	Typical Application: Material thickness from 0.020(0.50) to 0.157(4.00). Other constraints dependent upon station size, punch size and shape and press tonnage capacity. Comments: For greater hole uniformity and flatter sheets, spread the punches to avoid punching adjacent holes in the same hit. Complete the desired pattern with the technique known as bridge hitting. Do not re-punch through previously punched holes to complete a pattern, single hit tool may be necessary.
Countersink	Use: Allows screw head to reside flush or below the surface of the material.	back to top
	Typical Application: Material thickness from 0.048(1.22) to 0.250(6.35), dependent upon press tonnage capacity. Comments: The shoulder style (dedicated) is generally ordered for one material thickness and screw size. The shoulder style coins the surrounding area producing a clean flat countersink with minimal burring.
Emboss - Beaded	Use: As a stiffener to add rigidity to sheet metal panels.	back to top
	Typical Application: Material thickness from 0.027(0.70) to 0.250(6.35), dependent upon press tonnage capacity. Comments: Increments between hits are determined by the cosmetic requirements for the finished part. Smaller increments result in better appearance. To minimize the sheet distortion that results from forming metal, the form height should be as low as possible.
Emboss - Cold Forged	Use: To produce a logo or design on a part.	back to top
	Typical Application: To minimize the sheet distortion that results from forming metal, the form height should be as low as possible. Best results in material thickness from 0.040(1.00) to 0.078(2.00). Maximum size dependent on the tooling style, station size and press tonnage capacity. Comments: An exact drawing, CAD file or sample of logo is required in order to produce this type of assembly.
Emboss - Formed	Use: Provides a recess or a protrusion..	back to top
	Typical Application: Material thickness from 0.027(0.70) to 0.250(6.35), dependent upon press tonnage capacity. Comments: Best results are attained when the side wall angle is 45° or less. Optimum form height is 3 times the material thickness or less.
Extrusion - Tapping	Use: Threading for screws and increased bearing area for tubes, etc.	back to top
	Typical Application: Material thickness from 0.031(0.80) to 0.106(2.70). Overall Height.2x to 2.5x material thickness. Diameter.0.374(9.50) (M-10). Comments: Buy additional inverted dies to accommodate alternate material thicknesses. Maximum diameter can be increased by using an alternative design.
Hinge	Use: To create hinge knuckles as integral elements on sheet metal components.	back to top
	Typical Application: The range of this application is dependent on a combination of the material thickness, pin diameter and feed gap of the press. Comments: An integral hinge knuckle on a component eliminates the costly process of purchasing and assembling separate hinges.
Knockout	Use: Allows optional pathway for electrical cable.	back to top
	Typical Application: Material thickness from 0.024(0.60) to 0.118(3.00). Maximum size dependent upon material type, thickness and press tonnage capacity. Comments: The tool can be used with other material thickness within a range of + or - 0.016(0.40) from design thickness. Maintain minimum of 0.236(6.00) difference between diameters used for knockout.
Louver	Use: To provide air flow or ventilation.	back to top
	Typical Application: Material thickness from 0.028(0.70) to 0.106(2.70). Maximum recommended top-to-top height is 0.255(6.50). Comments: One tool cuts the sheet and produces the form in the same operation. The tool is designed for a specific material thickness.
Rollerball™	Use: The Rollerball™ takes advantage of the extended programming capabilities of hydraulic and other punch presses capable of operating in the X and Y axis with the ram down. The Rollerball® gives you the benefit of making forms not possible with single hit forming tools.	back to top
	Typical Application: Maximum workable material thickness is 0.105(2.70) mild steel. Comments: The press must be capable of holding the ram down while the sheet is moved on the X or Y axis.
SheetMarker™	Use: For markings or etchings on the surface of sheet metal. The tool uses a diamond pointed insert in a spring loaded holder to create the marking.	back to top
	Typical Application: The Sheetmarker™ Tool can be used on all material types and thickness. Comments: A wide variety of results can be produced, ranging from very light etching to fairly deep grooves in the sheet. Variations are achieved with a combination of three spring pressures and insert point angles.
Stamp - Alpha-Numeric	Use: To provide indelible marking of alpha-numeric characters on the top or bottom of the sheet. Example; for part numbers.	back to top
	Typical Application: Material thickness from 0.032(0.80) up to machine capacity. Characters available in 4 popular sizes. See table. Comments: Each individual character can be changed easily.
Threadform	Use: To provide a form to accept a sheet metal screw (button head).	back to top
	Typical Application: Material thickness from 0.020(0.50) to 0.048(1.20). Size is dependent upon screw size selected. Thicker material requires a countersink operation or thinning prior to threadforming. Comments: Tool can be designed to suit either cut thread or rolled thread. You will need to specify thread type when ordering.
V-Line Inscription	Use: To produce logos, messages or symbols.	back to top
	Typical Application: Material thickness from 0.032(0.80) up to machine capacity. Maximum size is dependent on station size and size of symbols and characters and press tonnage capacity. Comments: V-Line Stamping.renders the image with a thin, sharp line stamped into the surface. An exact drawing, CAD file or sample of logo is required in order to produce this type of assembly.