I have a need to make ornaments in a large quantity. I am looking to make a die that can take large runs in tin. Does anyone have any advise???I have the art.....
It may not be of help but take a look at www.wendellaugust.com. Wendell August has been in business since the 1930's. They are located in Grove City, PA . I think they have a video showing the work in their shop. They make ornaments in Al, bronze, and silver. Their dies are 90% cut by hammer and chisel.
you will have a real marketing challenge to make such a venture pay off. the cost of such dies are likely higher than you expect. there's ways to do this, but no relief involved. such can be done economically on lasers or pantographs. the tips section shows a few of the hundreds of template or master plates that i made.
Having worked at Wendell August, I can tell you tin is not something they do. It is not thick enough for the hammered process. Sounds like you want cut outs? Strip feed in a press will produce at a rapid rate. Strip feed is also used for struck pieces. You may be able to farm out some if this work with a little research.
Sorry, I did not explain strip feed. The metal is roll fed to a press where both the design dies and the trim tool operate. The splash die with the design accepts the fed material where it is struck, then slides to the trim tool. Each strike of the press equals one strike and one trim. Production is about one piece per second. I agree that the cost is in the dies and the trim tool too.
Unless there is no expense limit, I would go with cast resin. Make a master, then a mold, and start casting, after you have made 6 casting, make another mold so you can cast 6 at a time. This is a link that will get you started. http://www.smooth-on.com/Urethane-Plastic-a/c5_1119_1211/index.html