Stampi

Stampi is the Italian term for molds and dies used in manufacturing. In Italian, stampo means a tool that shapes or forms material, and stampi is its plural. In English-language discussions, stampi is typically translated as molds or dies, depending on the process. The term covers tools used to form sheet metal, plastics, ceramics, or food products by shaping, cutting, or imprinting patterns.

Common categories include metal stamping dies, injection molds for plastics, compression molds, transfer molds, and blow molds. Metal stamping typically employs a hardened steel die and a press to cut or form sheet metal in high-volume production. Plastic injection molding uses cavities in steel or aluminum molds to shape molten resin, while compression and transfer molding apply heat and pressure to thermosetting plastics. Blow molding forms hollow objects from plastic by inflating a heated parison inside a mold.

Design and construction considerations include material selection for the stampi (tool steel is common), surface finish and coating, tolerances, cooling and venting, and ejector systems. Stampi must withstand repetitive loads, heat, and wear; tool life is measured in production cycles and may require maintenance such as grinding, resurfacing, or reconditioning.

Applications span automotive, consumer electronics, appliances, packaging, and ceramics. In culinary contexts, stampi may refer to molds used to shape dough or pastry or imprint patterns. The history of stamping and molding technologies extends from 19th-century metal dies to modern CNC- and automation-driven molds.

See also: Mold, Die, Injection molding.