Choosing the Right Metal for Your Sheet Metal Fabrication

Selecting the ideal metal for a sheet metal fabrication project depends on the specific requirements of the project and its intended application. Consulting with one of our experts can provide valuable guidance in choosing the best material for your component, product, or structure. To assist in narrowing down your options, here's an overview of some commonly used sheet metals:

Aluminum: Known for its lightweight and corrosion-resistant properties, aluminum is fairly strong but is often alloyed to enhance specific attributes for industrial use. It's widely utilized in a range of applications from consumer electronics (like laptops and smartphones) to construction (both residential and industrial) and transportation (such as aircraft components).

Brass: An alloy of copper and zinc, brass offers strength, low weight, and excellent corrosion resistance, along with an attractive appearance. It is used in both functional and decorative applications.

Copper: Copper is valued for its high conductivity, corrosion resistance, and workability, making it a common choice for electrical and electronic components. Its distinctive color also makes it popular for decorative items like jewelry.

Stainless Steel: This alloy of iron, chromium, nickel, and other metals is renowned for its corrosion resistance, thanks to the chromium content. It's highly suitable for harsh environments and is used in various industries, including kitchen appliances, automotive parts, and medical instruments, due to its strength and low maintenance.

Steel: Available in numerous formulations and grades, steel generally offers high strength and durability. Its properties can be adjusted through processing techniques such as hot rolling, cold rolling, and galvanizing. Steel is used in everything from art and appliances to industrial equipment and structures.

Titanium: Titanium is celebrated for its exceptional strength-to-weight ratio, making it ideal for demanding industrial environments. Its corrosion resistance and durability also make it a preferred material for aerospace, marine, and military applications.

Our Sheet Metal Fabrication Services

We offer a wide range of sheet metal fabrication services, including:

• Forming: Stamping, deep drawing, bending, and metal spinning

• Welding: MIG, TIG, and spot welding

• Aluminum Extrusion

• Aluminum Die Casting

• CNC Machining

• Custom Metal Fabrication Solutions

Additionally, we provide precision machine work and finishing services such as painting, assembly, silkscreen, laser etching, and hardware installation.

Sheet Metal Forming

Sheet metal forming is a process used to create complex three-dimensional shapes with minimal material through plastic deformation, eliminating the need for machining. There are two main types of sheet metal forming:

Hot Forming: Involves heating the material to a partially liquid state using localized heat sources or specialized equipment, making it suitable for thicker materials and intricate shapes.

Cold Forming: Performed at or near room temperature using high-tonnage presses and standardized tools, it is ideal for thinner materials and simpler shapes.

Robotics have enhanced productivity in sheet metal forming, reducing upfront tooling costs compared to methods like stamping.

Sheet Metal Stamping

Stamping is a forming process that uses mechanical or hydraulic presses along with custom punch and die sets to create three-dimensional shapes through permanent deformation. It is efficient for producing large quantities of high-precision metal parts at lower costs, though initial setup costs and maintenance can be significant. Common applications include automotive, household appliances, and medical industries.

Sheet Metal Punching

Similar to stamping, punching uses a punch and die assembly to create holes or indents in sheet metal. The punch forces through the metal, separating the punched material from the sheet. Punching remains a popular method for high-speed hole creation and low-consumable production costs and is used for creating specific shapes and designs in parts and components.

Sheet Metal Rolling

Rolling involves passing metal through rollers to elongate one face and shorten the other, creating a curved profile. This process can produce tubes, pipes, and complex tangential profiles with precision. Applications include lock-seam pipes, welded pipes, and open-butt-joint pipes.

Sheet Metal Laser Cutting

Laser cutting uses a high-powered laser to cut sheet metal into custom shapes and designs. It is highly precise, energy-efficient, and suitable for various metals including aluminum, copper, and steel. For materials thicker than 1 inch, water jet cutting may be more appropriate.

Sheet Metal Shearing

Shearing uses upper and lower blades to cut flat metal stock into smaller pieces. This method is commonly used to prepare sheet metal for further processing or rapid prototyping. It's also frequently used in manufacturing A/C ducts.

Conclusion

Sheet metal fabrication encompasses various techniques, including stamping, punching, rolling, and shearing. Each method serves a specific purpose and is used to create different shapes and components, often requiring additional finishing and treatment processes after fabrication.