STEP BY STEP FROM A DRAFT TO FINAL IRON CROSS - Excursion in the Deschler&Sohn Munich

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I. THE BEGINNING

1. At the beginning, there is a draft. One of the outstanding features of Deschler & Sohn, München was for decades the creativity that is manifested mainly in their designs.

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2. Creative department / studio. Conversion of drawn draft into magnified three-dimensional model. The picture shows a multitalented operations manager Guido Weber, who was also a sculptor and goldsmith, while working on one of the models.

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3. Draft of the Deschler Iron cross 2nd class with ribbon ring. Famous and desirable "round three" in the date can be clearly seen.

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II. THE STAMPING TOOLS

4. At the beginning of the production is the manufacturing of stamping tools, which starts with the processing of the steel preform.
Above the saw blade, the feeder of cooling emulsion can be seen.

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5. The cutting of the steel preform is followed by turning the die with Tungsten carbide blade.

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6. View of the engraving workshop. Accurate eye and a steady hand are essential prerequisites for the profession of engraver.
The environment of each workshop include high-quality lighting and a little "treat for the eyes."

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7. Large skylights are not just a design element, but provide an equal incidence of light (preferably northern light). In the background, the specialist is working on copying and engraving machine made by famous company Deckel.

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8.- 9. Clamped die is engraved with high sensitivity.
Handicraft skill will prove especially later in focus.

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10.-11. Patience and infallible view is imperative for the two-dimensional artwork to become three-dimensional steel negative. When carrying out the last final treating works the use of different types of tools is necessary. In the photo on the right, the co-owner of Deschler & Sohn, Mr. Heinrich Kainz Senior can be seen during professional supervision of final processing. Earlier, they still relied on saying: "Machine can never replace Man."

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12. On the lower part of the die the front part of the die is lightly imprinted, so that a fingerprint of upper die is created. Then the edges are being resurfaced.

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13. The interior is then carved using a band saw. The photograph shows the aspirator of a fine steel shavings.

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14. A refined piece is then machined by hand. This part of the die must be consequently hardened (quenched).

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15. The die is quenched in an electric furnace at 800 to 1000 ° C. When hardening the dies, adverse effects can have negative impact on the quality of the dies. Company Deschler & Sohn uses a very modern facility that has managed to prevent these negative effects during hardening. It is one more reason why this company is renowned for its high quality dies.

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16. When machining metal parts, the annealing causes the forming of scales which are removed first by leaching, usually in sulfuric acid. Following further purification using hydrochloric acid, sulfuric acid and nitric acid, the surface becomes suitable for further technologies. The actual leaching is always performed in the bath.

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17. Complete set of stamping tools for the production of the Iron Cross:
Cutter and cutting board for producing the blank and deburring of it
Matrix / punch
Dies for obverse and reverse side