About Sheet Metal Fabrication Services  Sheet metal fabrication service providers manufacture components by cutting, bending, rolling, forming, stamping and welding sheet metal
. Components manufactured through sheet metal fabrication services are used in a variety of applications such as enclosures, computer equipment, HVAC components, kitchen and sanitary equipment,
machine tools and other industrial applications. Sheet metal fabrication services include a diverse range of processes used to fashion sheet metal
into usable products. These processes may be broken down into three rough categories, cutting, forming, and finishing services.
Sheet metal cutting
Sheet metal cutting services includes a number of techniques used to cut metal into smaller pieces so that it can be molded or formed into components. Common types of sheet metal cutting involve shearing,
electrical discharge machining (EDM), sheet metal laser cutting, water jet and abrasive cutting. Shearing uses a specialized machine to cut sheet metal by applying shear
stress. This process is used to cut large sheets of metal into smaller parts. Laser cutting machines use laser light to cut or etch holes or profiles.
Laser cutting machines are very precise programmable pieces of equipment. Water jets and water abrasive jets rely on highly pressurized water (20,000
- 60,000 psi) flowing through a nozzle or "jewel" approximately 0.010" in diameter. Advantages include almost no material heating during cutting,
low side loads, and ability to achieve complex shapes and tight inside radii. Low fixturing costs and fast setup and programming times make this
process very suitable for prototypes or short runs. It is most widely used for two-dimensional cutting; three-dimensional machining is possible in specialty applications
Wire electrical discharge machining (EDM) equipment is used to cut conductive materials using a thin electrode. The electrode is a thin wire
(typically .004"-.012") that follows a programmed path. The wire does not physically contact the part. It is charged to a certain level and surrounded
by de-ionized water. A spark is generated that jumps the gap and melts a small amount of material on the part.
Sheet metal forming
Sheet metal forming processes include those actions used fashion metal into specific shapes or semi-finished pieces. Common techniques include bending and forming, rolling, stamping, punching,
welding, and hardware and fastener creation.
Bending and forming processes are used to shape the sheet metal to its final shape.
In the rolling process, a series of roll stands is used to progressively shape or bend a strip of flat-rolled metal to a desired cross section. Stamping
is the process of impressing surface definition and three-dimensional designs onto materials with pressurized tools and dies. Punching
is the process of punching holes in the sheet metal. Welding is the joining of metals and metal parts by melting and re-forming a metal bond
between materials, with or without additional filler metal. Hardware and
fastener creation is the capability to supply and integrate hardware such as
handles, latches and threaded, self-clinching fasteners used to provide threads in sheet metal that is too thin or soft to be tapped.
Sheet metal fabrication facilities manufacture components by cutting, bending, rolling, forming, stamping, and welding sheet metal. Components manufactured through sheet metal fabrication
services are used in a variety of applications such as enclosures, computer equipment, HVAC components, kitchen and sanitary equipment, machine tools and other industrial applications.
Sheet metal fabrication services include a diverse range of processes used to fashion sheet metal into usable products. Precision sheet metal fabrication may be broken down into three rough categories,
cutting, forming, and finishing services. Sheet metal cutting services includes a number of techniques used to cut metal into smaller pieces so
that it can be molded or formed into components. Common types of sheet metal cutting involve shearing, electrical discharge machining (EDM), laser cutting, water jet and abrasive cutting.
Sheet metal forming processes include those actions used fashion metal into specific shapes or semi-finished pieces. Common custom sheet metal fabrication techniques include bending and
forming, rolling, stamping, punching, welding, and hardware and fastener creation. Bending and forming processes are used to shape the sheet metal to its final shape. In the rolling process, a series of roll
stands is used to progressively shape or bend a strip of flat-rolled metal to a desired cross section. Stamping is a sheet metal fabrication process for impressing surface definition and three-dimensional
designs onto materials with pressurized tools and dies. Punching is the process of punching holes in the sheet metal. Welding is the joining of metals and metal parts by melting and re-forming a metal
bond between materials, with or without additional filler metal. Hardware and fastener creation is a sheet metal fabrication capability to supply and integrate hardware such as handles, latches and
threaded, self-clinching fasteners used to provide threads in sheet metal that is too thin or soft to be tapped. |
