Sheet Metal Fabrication

Sheet metal fabrication is a classification of manufacturing processes that shape a piece of sheet metal into the desired part through material removal and/or material deformation. Sheet metal, which acts as the workpiece in these processes, is one of the most common forms of raw material stock. The material thickness that classifies a workpiece as sheet metal is not clearly defined. However, sheet metal is generally considered to be a piece of stock between 0.006 and 0.25 inches thick. A piece of metal much thinner is considered to be "foil" and any thicker is referred to as a "plate". The thickness of a piece of sheet metal is often referred to as its gauge, a number typically ranging from 3 to 38. A higher gauge indicates a thinner piece of sheet metal, with exact dimensions that depend on the material. Sheet metal stock is available in a wide variety of materials, which include the following:
 

Aluminum Brass Bronze Copper Magnesium Nickel

Stainless steel Steel Tin Titanium Zinc

 
Sheet metal can be cut, bent, and stretched into a nearly any shape. Material removal processes can create holes and cutouts in any 2D geometric shape. Deformation processes can bend the sheet numerous times to different angles or stretch the sheet to create complex contours. The size of sheet metal parts can range from a small washer or bracket, to midsize enclosures for home appliances, to large airplane wings. These parts are found in a variety of industries, such as aircraft, automotive, construction, consumer products, HVAC, and furniture.

Sheet metal fabrication processes can mostly be placed into two categories - forming and cutting. Forming processes are those in which the applied force causes the material to plastically deform, but not to fail. Such processes are able to bend or stretch the sheet into the desired shape. Cutting processes are those in which the applied force causes the material to fail and separate, allowing the material to be cut or removed. Most cutting processes are performed by applying a great enough shearing force to separate the material, and are therefore sometimes referred to as shearing processes. Other cutting processes remove material by using heat or abrasion, instead of shearing forces.
 

• Forming
• Bending
• Roll forming
• Spinning
• Deep Drawing
• Stretch forming
• Cutting with shear
• Shearing
• Blanking
• Punching
• Cutting without shear
• Laser beam cutting
• Plasma cutting
• Water jet cutting

As a professional stamping parts manufacturer and metal parts fabricator,we have advanced equipments and machines, serious quality control, fast leading time and competitive price.Email us for more information:
rainbowrt@ymail.com
Mobile:0086-13260091203
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Capabilities

Typical Feasible Shapes: Flat Thin-walled: Cylindrical Thin-walled: Cubic Thin-walled: Complex Part size: Area: Up to 80 ft² Weight: 0.5 oz - 100 lb Materials: Metals Alloy Steel Carbon Steel Stainless Steel Aluminum Copper Lead Magnesium Nickel Tin Titanium Zinc Surface finish - Ra: 32 - 125 μin 16 - 250 μin Tolerance: ± 0.01 in. ± 0.002 in. Max wall thickness: 0.08 - 0.5 in. 0.001 - 1.0 in. Quantity: 1000 - 100000 1 - 1000000 Lead time: Weeks Hours Advantages: Can form complex shapes Many material options High production rate Low labor cost Short lead time possible Disadvantages: Limited to constant part thickness Part may require several operations and machines Large amount of scrap Applications: Brackets, panels, cans, utensils