DIN EN 1669 is a test method for evaluating earing (ear formation) after deep drawing of aluminum and aluminum-alloy sheet or strip. It standardizes how ear height is measured and reported so forming quality and anisotropy effects can be compared consistently.
This method is commonly used to qualify incoming sheet/coil, benchmark lots or suppliers, and support tooling/process adjustments in stamping and deep-drawing operations. If you need help aligning your press tooling or measurement approach with a cited edition, talk with our team.
DIN EN 1669: Aluminium and aluminium alloys — Test methods — Earing test for sheet and strip
DIN EN 1669 is the German adoption of EN 1669 and describes a cup deep-drawing based procedure used to quantify earing on aluminum sheet/strip after forming.
The result is typically used as a practical forming-quality indicator for rolled products, supporting decisions in material selection and process control for deep-drawn parts.
Quick Definition
What it is: A standardized deep-drawing “cup” test and measurement procedure to determine ear height (earing tendency) on aluminum and aluminum-alloy sheet and strip.
What it tells you: How strongly the material forms ears during drawing, which is closely tied to planar anisotropy and rolling/texture effects that matter in stamping and deep drawing.
What it is not: A full product specification or pass/fail acceptance standard by itself; acceptance criteria are usually defined by the purchaser, drawing requirements, or an internal control plan.
What This Standard Covers
DIN EN 1669 describes a method that forms a drawn cup from sheet/strip and then measures ear height on the cup rim using defined measurement and calculation rules.
Material scope (high level): Aluminum and aluminum-alloy sheet and strip used in forming operations, within the nominal thickness range covered by the standard.
Output (high level): Measured ear height values (and commonly a calculated earing percentage), suitable for comparing lots, suppliers, or process conditions.
Why This Standard Matters in Testing
Earing drives trimming losses, dimensional variation, and downstream forming stability. A repeatable earing test helps teams quantify a forming-related material behavior that is difficult to capture using tensile properties alone.
In production environments, results are often trended over time (by coil/heat/lot) to detect drift, support supplier discussions, and reduce trial-and-error during die setup.
Common Materials, Product Types, or Applications Covered
DIN EN 1669 is most commonly applied where aluminum sheet/strip is deep drawn into cups, shells, or similar geometries and ear formation impacts yield or final part geometry.
Common product forms: Rolled aluminum sheet and strip (coil-fed or cut blanks) destined for stamping/deep drawing.
Common industries: General metalforming and manufacturing where aluminum drawing quality is controlled (for example, formed housings, covers, and similar drawn components).
Common Test or Verification Workflow
A typical DIN EN 1669 workflow uses a prepared blank, a controlled deep-drawing operation to produce a cylindrical cup, then measurement of ear peaks/valleys around the rim and calculation of reported values.
Common workflows: Incoming material qualification, supplier comparison, process validation, and ongoing QC trending tied to coil/lot identifiers.
Practical caution: Comparability depends heavily on using the specified tooling geometry and consistent lubrication/blank preparation practices; changes here can shift measured earing results even when the material is unchanged.
Equipment Commonly Used for This Standard
DIN EN 1669 is equipment-driven because the method relies on a controlled cup draw and consistent dimensional measurement around the cup rim.
Common equipment: Deep drawing / cupping test press or a sheet metal forming tester with the appropriate punch/die set; cutting/punching tools for blank preparation; and measurement tools (e.g., height gauge or optical/digital measurement setup) suitable for consistent rim profiling.
Quoting focus: Key selection items usually include available force/press capacity, tooling compatibility for the required cup geometry, alignment and guidance quality, lubrication approach, and how ear height will be measured and documented.
If you are specifying a sheet metal forming test setup for earing evaluation, you can request a detailed quote with the press/tooling and measurement options matched to your throughput and reporting needs.
How to Read This Designation or Revision
DIN EN 1669 is a DIN adoption of a European Norm (EN). When it is cited as “DIN EN 1669:1997-02,” the “1997-02” indicates the edition date (year-month) of the DIN publication.
Because equipment setup and calculation/reporting details can vary by edition, purchasing documents and internal control plans should cite the full designation including the edition date where possible.
Related Standards, Methods, or Frameworks when useful
Some organizations pair aluminum-specific earing evaluation with broader earing test methods used for other metallic materials (for example, ISO earing test standards) to keep reporting consistent across mixed-material forming operations.
DIN EN 1669 also replaced an earlier DIN document for the earing test, so legacy procedures or older lab work instructions may reference the superseded designation and should be cross-checked to avoid mismatched tooling or calculations.
Talk with us about DIN EN 1669 test setups
If you need help selecting a deep drawing test press, tooling set, or measurement approach for your aluminum sheet/strip program, contact our team and share your material thickness range, target cup geometry, and reporting requirements.