Progressive stamping die assembly having transversely movable die station and method of manufacturing a stack of laminae therewith

A method of manufacturing a stack of laminae in a progressive stamping die assembly having means for guiding strip stock material through the die assembly in a first direction, a transversely moveable die station which is moveable in opposite second and third directions substantially perpendicular to the first direction and having a plurality of predetermined positions, and a choke passageway, said method comprising:

• stamping a first lamina having a first shape in the strip stock material in the transversely moveable die station while the transversely moveable die station is in a first predetermined position;
• substantially simultaneously advancing the strip stock material through the die assembly in the first direction and moving the transversely moveable die station in one of the second and third directions to a second predetermined position;
• stamping a second lamina having a second shape in the strip stock material in the transversely moveable die station while the transversely moveable die station is in the second predetermined position, the second shape different than the first shape;
• separating the first lamina from the strip stock material;
• placing the first lamina into the choke passageway;
• separating the second lamina from the strip stock material subsequently to placing the first lamina into the choke passageway;
• placing the second lamina into the choke passageway;
• and
• frictionally engaging the choke passageway with at least one of the first and second laminae.