Sheet metal fabrication is the process in which sheet metal is turned into a usable product. This is achieved through cutting, shaping and joining metal sheets together to create the desired end result. This process is widely used across a number of mass manufacturing industry sectors, including automotive, aerospace and construction.
Why Is Sheet Metal Fabrication Necessary?
Hand-crafting the products that we use every day would be a time-consuming process filled with quality control failings and spiralling costs. In stark contrast, automated sheet metal fabrication uses computer-aided design to guide the machinery, quickly and accurately transforming sheet metal into precise outputs by cutting, bending and welding them in just the right places.
What Are the Steps in Sheet Metal Fabrication?
Companies that are involved in sheet metal fabrication use one or more of the following steps in fabricating sheet metal products:
- Cutting. This step involves cutting shapes out of sheet metal using lasers, plasma, waterjets or punching.
- Bending. This step involves shaping the resulting shapes into the designed angle without damaging the metal. This can be achieved by curving, rolling or stamping the metal.
- Welding. Welding is the process in which two or more metal shapes are joined together securely.
- Assembly. Either as well as or instead of welding, sheet metal shapes can be joined together using screws, rivets or adhesives.
In Conclusion
Sheet metal fabrication is a high-quality, speedy and cost-effective process capable of creating high-volume accurate outputs for industry sectors that value precision and consistency, delivering high levels of customer satisfaction.