As a result of the immense advancements of technology in the manufacturing industry, manufacturers and mechanical engineers now have many options available to produce a wide variety of end products in the metalworking industry.
Sheet metal fabrication is one of the most popular manufacturing techniques these days, as it’s a viable and cost-effective alternative to the demanding challenges of sourcing metal parts from local machine shops. So what is sheet metal fabrication?
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Sheet metal fabrication is an assemblage of manufacturing operations used to turn sheet metal stock into functional components.
Several manufacturing processes fall under the frame of sheet metal fabrication, including high-power laser cutting, bending, punching, assembling, and more. These manufacturing processes can be used in tandem or individually to create end-use sheet metal components or functional prototypes.
The sheet metal fabrication process can provide durable, end-use metal parts with a broad selection of materials and finishes to meet individual specifications for industries like automotive, medical, aerospace, electronics, robotics, and energy.
Read along to learn about the advantages and benefits that sheet metal fabrication offers to manufacturers and get ready to launch your next big manufacturing project.
A Broad Range Of Sheet Metal Materials Are Available
Depending on what you’re designing and the purpose of your end product, you can always determine which material you should use from the broad range of sheet metal materials available, like:
- Aluminum 1005
- Aluminum 5052
- Aluminum 6061
- Copper
- Stainless Steel 202
- Stainless Steel 304
- Stainless Steel 316
- Steel
- Zinc
Before opting for a particular material, always consult with a sheet metal fabrication professional and decide which one suits your project the best.
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Outsourcing For High Production Rate
Nowadays, sheet metal fabrication companies use the latest state-of-the-art machinery and equipment that allow the company to produce simple and more complicated metal end-products at a high production rate. The tooling that these companies use is extremely precise, so there’s no need to worry about the products’ dimensions either.
Suppose you need your parts to be ready in no time. In that case, we recommend outsourcing your sheet metal fabrication work to professional and trustworthy companies that can offer a high production rate, fast turnaround, and no minimum order quantity.
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Durability And Malleability
Sheet metals are powerful enough to resist high pressures. Yet, they are malleable and can be formed into almost any shape, which means they are the perfect material for innovative engineers and designers to work with.
The end-stage of the sheet metal fabrication procedure involves finishing the material to create a durable surface, whether it’s bead blasting, anodizing, priming, plating, or powder-coating.
These procedures help make the sheet metal resistant to corrosion, moisture, and the sun making the metal fabrication ideal for use in end-products that will be highly exposed to different weather conditions and climates.
Low Production Costs On Both Simple And Complex Designs
The economical but high-quality sheet metals and metal fabrication process provide firms, contractors, and many manufacturing industries with significant savings. These savings are not only beneficial to the manufacturing companies but are transferable to their clients as well.
Besides, if the metal used for sheet metal fabrication has the same width all around, manufacturers can save on the production cost because it will take less tooling time to laser cut or bend the metal sheet for simple designs.
More intricate designs are usually pretty straightforward to handle as well. There are absolutely no limitations to the designs that can be cut or fashioned with sheet metal fabrication.
Products Made From Sheet Metal Are Easily Repairable
In most cases, end-products made from sheet metal can quickly be inspected if there’s any need, and any damage that occurred can be detected without difficulty. Repairs can be carried out straightforwardly by removing the individual metal sheet from the structure and replacing it without dismantling the whole construction or product.
Besides, modifications are never a problem with sheet metal-fabricated products and structures. They can quickly expand on various buildings, including different vertical expansions that are not easy to carry out with other construction materials.
Sheet Metal Fabrication Offers Ultimate Part Precision
Sheet metal fabrications are produced with ultimate precision. The parts, components, and systems built this way are almost always ready to install without any further need for adjustments and modifications. In applications like automotive manufacturing or HVAC system development, precision is essential to meet the rigorous industry required standards and guarantee design safety.
As we mentioned above, when needed, the replacement parts are all uniform and only need to be installed. With the minimal variance in all aspects of the design, frequently in the 1000ths of an inch, each replacement part is practically identical to the original.
Aesthetically Pleasing
Products and structures made with sheet metal are extraordinarily pleasing to the eye. In most cases, the result is getting a product with a seamless look that is sophisticated and modern. In addition to the fact that the sheet metals can be manipulated in dozens of ways, they can also be painted to enhance their aesthetic appeal.
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Final Thoughts
Apart from injection molding services and CNC machining, sheet metal fabrication is another profound way for smart manufacturers to lower each product piece’s cost when every penny counts.
It doesn’t matter if you’re a member of the automotive or construction industry, or you’re considering sheet metal fabrication for another commercial reason. Now that you know the outstanding benefits of this fabrication process, you can easily make the right decision when choosing how you’re going to produce your metal parts, components, and products.
