From Zero to Finished Product: What Does It Take to Fabricate Sheet Metal?

The number of items made from metals could be way higher than you can imagine. From heavy equipment, automotive parts and aeroplane components to loose tools and home appliances, it is safe to say that metals have found lots of applications in your life. Steel and aluminium stand out among the different metals available today. Their unmatched reliability, resistance to corrosion and strength makes them a preferred option even for those who want to fabricate metals in their lightest form. Sheet metals, being the lightest form of metals, require a comprehensive fabrication process to deliver the best products. Here is what it takes to fabricate sheet metal materials:

Cutting

Most metal fabrication processes start with cutting, and sheet metal is no exception. Often, steel and aluminium come as large slabs rolled into coils for easy transportation and handling. You must cut the material you get into the sizes that fit your applications. The ideal cutting method is shearing, which delivers a scissor-like cut to the metal sheet. Specialised shearing machines come with long blades that make straight, smooth cuts through the sheet metals.

If you want to cut the sheets into unique, complex shapes, turn to laser cutting. The laser beams rely on computer controls that can manipulate the cut into any shape that you can imagine.

Bending

Once you cut the sheets into the size or shape you desire, the next step is to bend them and form the item you want to create. For vehicle or aeroplane panels, this is the time to fold them into parts that will fit different machine sections. The best fabricators take on the bending process using press brakes. Operators will position the sheet such that the area they want to bend sits within a V-shaped channel. The bend happens as they lower and press the tool against the sheet metal. It is worth noting that press brakes deliver good-quality bends with minimal risk of damaging the sheet metal material.

Assembly and Finishing

The process of assembly allows you to join different pieces of sheet metal. It starts with simple fit-ups where the sheet metal components are held against each other using clamps. When the fabricator is happy with the fitting, welders begin to create strong joints between the different sheet metal components. At this stage, your best bet is to go for arch welding procedures combined with robotic welding machines. The final step is to polish the parts to a glossy, mirror finish to enhance corrosion resistance.

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