The Basics Of Sheet Metal Fabrication
Unlike traditional sheet metal shops, we have infinite capacity and an easy-to-use online quoting system ensuring on-time shipment every time—whether you need a single part or 500 parts. Sheet metal fabrication is the process of forming a piece of metal into a desired shape through bending, stretching, and removal of material. At rapid, we use press brake punches and die tooling to bend and stretch flat stock into its final geometry. The sheet metal prototyping process is most often used when form, fit, and function are all a priority. Typical sheet metal parts we manufacture include enclosures, brackets, assemblies, weldments, cabinets, and other components.
How does it work?
To create a design, we use computer software to create a 3D prototype. We check the calculations carefully such as stress levels, as well as other important specifications, and put it into place.
The actual fabrication process is complex and involved many steps, including Cutting, Forming, Welding and Finishing etc.
Sheet Metal Cutting Types
Sheet metal fabrication is the process of forming parts from a metal sheet. Your 3D CAD files are converted into machine code, which controls a machine that precisely cuts and forms the sheets into the final part. Typical forming tools are brakes, punches, and dies which can form angular bends and features. Installing inserts, such as PEM inserts, is standard practice along with welding and finishing services.
Pros& Cons
Sheet metal parts are known for their durability, which makes them great for end-use applications (e.g. chassis). Parts used for low volume prototypes and high volume production runs are most cost-effective due to large initial setup and material costs.
PCBWay provides quick quotes and completed parts in as fast as 5 business days;
Sheet metal parts are built on-demand and with lower setup costs compared to CNC Machining;
various choices for finishes like Bead Blast, Anodized and Powder Coat etc; multiple material selection like Aluminum, Copper and Steel etc;
However, Interlocking and hollowed structure is difficult to be achieved.
Sheet Metal Fabrication Application
Sheet metal fabrication is widely used for industrial and consumer parts and in specialist industries like automotive, aerospace, energy, and robotics.
PCBWay provide service including PCB Prototype & Batch Production, PCB Assembly (SMT), PCB Design, Electronics Modules Selling, 3D Printing, CNC Machining etc. We are committed to meeting the needs of global makers from different industries in terms of quality, delivery, cost-effectiveness and any other demanding requests in electronics.
