Understanding the Custom Sheet Metal Fabrication Process

Originally posted on 01/22/2019

Though we may be unaware of it, we probably use an item made up of some metal nearly every day. Metal is a huge part of our lives, whether it be the toaster oven that makes our breakfast or the car that takes us to work every day. Each part of these items is shaped differently and often requires a custom job. This is where custom sheet metal fabrication comes in.

Custom sheet metal fabrication involves using various methods to manipulate sheet metal to make machine parts for later assembly. In this article, we will go through several of the most common sheet metal fabricating methods.

Custom Sheet Metal Fabrication Methods

Here are some of the different fabrication processes:

Method #1: Laser Cutting

Using a high-tech laser machine, freshly made metal can be cut into fractions of the original size or cut into a custom shape depending on what it would be used to assemble later. The machines can also laser cut pre-made metal shapes, such as bars or panels.

Method #2: Punching

You would use this method to create holes in sheet metal. The metal would be placed under a die and have a drill punch through the piece. Punching holes are generally made with the following intentions: fastening latches and other parts or the pieces extracted would be used to make smaller parts.

Method #3: Bending/Folding

Bending is a complicated process where a high-tech machine would fold the piece of metal to meet a certain angle requirement. Since the process is quite complex, some opt to put two separate pieces of metal together at the request angle.

Method #4: Welding

Welding is one of the most common processes of custom sheet metal fabrication. It involves joining two pieces together by applying a high level of heat to the application points. You could also weld pre-made shapes to achieve your project goals.

Method #5: Stamping

Another process of manipulating sheet metal is through stamping. With this method, the goal is not to create a hole in the piece. Instead, the idea is to raise a portion of the metal to form a shape, word, or image.

Work with Experienced Sheet Metal Fabricators

There are many different ways to create custom sheet metal pieces. However, most processes require large and expensive machines. Some are also complex and dangerous, such as bending or folding. If your project requires such methods, you must perform these at a facility equipped with the proper machinery to ensure your safety. Give our team a call today!