What is Sheet Metal Fabrication?

What is Sheet Metal Fabrication?

Sheet metal fabrication involves a range of metalworking techniques—such as bending, cutting, forming, rolling, and welding—that transform sheet metal into finished parts, products, and structures. These processes manipulate the material through removal, deformation, or joining. Specialized equipment is used for each technique (e.g., press brakes for bending) and can be integrated with other processes to achieve complex design requirements. After fabrication, the metal is typically subjected to finishing treatments (e.g., sanding, blasting, priming, and painting) to enhance both its functionality and appearance.

Here's a brief overview of some common sheet metal fabrication processes:

Applications of Sheet Metal Fabrication

The versatility and durability of sheet metal make it ideal for a wide array of applications across many industries, including:

• Aerospace and Aviation

• Appliances

• Automotive

• Chemical

• Construction

• Consumer Goods

• Electronics

• Energy Generation and Distribution

• Hardware

• Marine

• Manufacturing

• Medical and Dental

• Military

• Mining

• Oil and Gas

• Piping

• Tools

• Transportation

Typical industrial components produced through sheet metal fabrication include:

• Automobile parts (e.g., bodies and engines)

• Containers (e.g., barrels and cans)

• Electrical and electronic parts (e.g., wires and piping)

• Enclosures and housings

• Energy equipment (e.g., generator parts and power lines)

• Equipment hardware (e.g., brackets and handles)

• Medical equipment (e.g., patient handling devices and surgical instruments)

• Tools (e.g., hammers and saws) and fasteners (e.g., bolts and screws)

Common Materials for Sheet Metal Fabrication

The choice of metal for sheet metal fabrication is guided by the specific requirements of the part and its intended use. For instance, copper is ideal for applications that require high electrical conductivity, while stainless steel is preferred for environments exposed to corrosive substances.

At Pro-Type Industries, we regularly work with a range of metals in our sheet metal fabrication processes, including:

• Aluminum

• Brass

• Bronze

• Copper

• Nickel

• Stainless Steel (303, 304, 316, 15-5, and 17-4)

• Steel and Steel Alloys

• Titanium

Additionally, we offer fabrication services for non-metallic substrates such as acetal, acrylic, nylon, polycarbonate, composites (e.g., G-10), and fiberglass-reinforced plastics (FRP).