Sheet Metal

 

Sheet metal is a kind of comprehensive cold processing technology for sheet metal (usually below 6mm), including cutting, punching/cutting/compounding, folding, welding, riveting, splicing, shaping (such as automobile body), etc.Its remarkable characteristic is the same part thickness is consistent.Products processed through sheet metal process are called Sheet Metal Parts.The sheet metal parts referred to by different industries are generally different, and are often used in combination.

 

Sheet Metal Process

Three main types of sheet metal fabrication process: forming, cutting and joining.

 

Forming: 

1. Stamping uses single or progressive dies to press the metal into the desired form.

2. Bending can be done either by press brakes or by hand

3. Roll forming has similar effects to bending.

 

Cutting:

1.    Laser cutting uses a focused beam of light for cutting through or engraving the material.

2.    Water jet cutting shoots high speed, concentrated streams of water filled with abrasives to erode a cut into the material.

3.    Machining uses a tool like a drill bit or lathe blade to cut off pieces of material.

 

Joining：

1.    Welding it acts by fusing the metal sheets together through melting them, while adding a filler

2.    Brazing is a similar process, but it acts by melting a filler without melting the sheets

3.    Adhesives hold together metal sheets.

 

Sheet Metal Materials:  

 

The materials generally used in sheet metal processing are cold-rolled sheet (SPCC), hot-rolled sheet (SHCC), galvanized sheet (SECC, SGCC), copper (CU) brass, red copper, beryllium copper, aluminum sheet (6061, 5052, 1010, 1060, 6063, duralumin, etc.), stainless steel (mirror surface, brushed surface, matte surface), according to the different functions of the product, the selection of materials is different, generally it is necessary to consider the use and cost of the product.

 

Cold-rolled sheet SPCC, mainly used for electroplating and baking varnish, low cost, easy to form, material thickness ≤ 3.2mm. Galvanized sheet SECC, SGCC. SECC electrolytic plates are divided into N material and P material. N material is mainly not used for surface treatment, which has high cost, and P material is used for sprayed parts. Sheet metal processing aluminum profiles; materials with complex cross-sectional structures are widely used in various sub-boxes. The surface treatment is the same as that of the aluminum plate. Sheet metal processing stainless steel; mainly used without any surface treatment, high cost.

Need a rapid prototype from sheet metal?  Please contact us via enquiry@abcrapid.com. 

 

ABC Rapid has huge capacity for rapidly made sheet metal parts, weldments, and assemblies. We utilize a combination of manual and automated machines and processes to turn sheet material into cut, bent, and formed part or assembly. We work directly from your CAD files during sheet metal production to create accurate parts for you.