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

A progressive die stamping apparatus for manufacturing a stack of laminae from strip stock material, comprising:

• means for incrementally advancing strip stock material through said apparatus in a first direction;
• and
• a transversely moveable die carriage comprising a plurality of matched punch and die hole sets for forming the sides of laminae, said matched punch and die hole sets arranged to move along opposite second and third directions, said second and third directions substantially perpendicular to said first direction, said transversely moveable die carriage having a plurality of preselected positions along said second and third directions, a different one of said plurality of matched punch and die hole sets corresponding to each of said preselected positions;
• wherein different ones of said preselected die carriage positions are assumed by said transversely moveable die station substantially simultaneously with the incremental advancement of strip stock material to selectively operate different ones of said plurality of matched punch and die hole sets to thereby remove a predetermined amount of material from said strip stock material corresponding to said selected matched punch and die set and form the sides of said laminae.