The process of sheet metal fabrication includes making various structures and products from thin sheets of metals like steel, copper, aluminum, tin, etc. The thickness of these metal sheets can be adjusted as per the requirement. They are easy to cut, bent, stamped, rolled, welded, drilled, tapped, or stretched to create various shapes. You can find some of the best sheet metal fabrication companies in China with some help from the internet.
There are numerous advantages of choosing sheet metal compared to non-metal or other metal fabrication alternatives. Sheet metal fabrication is cost-effective in both processing and material. Making various objects by sheet metal fabrication is very easy, especially with innovative technologies. Because of its many advantages, sheet metal fabrication is perfect for industrial use. Technological advancements in the industry also innovate the processing of sheet metal and its various use. It also makes the process very convenient and quicker.
Here are the techniques used in sheet metal fabrication:
Cutting
The process starts with cutting the sheet metal by different methods depending on the thickness of the metal and the project’s requirements. There are many ways by which professionals cut sheet metals in different shapes. The methods are:
Water jet: A water jet tool is used to cut sheet metal using an extremely high-pressured stream of water. With such pressure, the sheets can be cut through various thicknesses.
Shearing: This method includes cutting sheet metal using a set of two blades like a large scissor. They are suitable to cut thinner pieces of sheet metal. The small blades, or hand shears, are used to cut smaller pieces to create small objects.
The other methods used for cutting sheet metals include torching, in which the sheets are cut into pieces using a cutting torch by oxidizing the metals sheets like steel sheet metal by using a hot flame. And sawing, where circular saws or band saws are used for cutting sheet metals of significant thickness.
Bending metal
After cutting, the next step is to bend the metal to get the desired shape of the object. There are two ways to bend sheet metal. The first is the metal brake, and the second is form bending. The former method includes using machinery to bend the sheet metal, whereas the latter includes hammering the sheet metal into the desired shape.
Welding
The parts are assembled using the welding technique. There are various welding techniques used by professionals to weld the parts. It is subjective to the thickness of the sheet metal, the object specifications, and the available equipment. Some of the common welding techniques are MIG welding, TIG welding, and laser welding.
Shrinking
Shrinking metal is required in some fabrication projects to smooth out the dents or shape the object. The processes used for shrinking are heat shrinking, tucking metal, and shrinker machines. The first two require a hands-on approach, and the shrinker machine automates the shrinking process.
Sometimes the sheet metals need stretching, which is opposite to the shrinking process. The methods used for metal stretching are stretcher machines, English wheels, and hammer & anvil. The process of steel metal fabrication ends with giving a fine finishing to the object by sandblasting, buff polishing, metal coating, etc. Find the best ones in the industry for metal sheet fabrication in China for your next metal fabrication project.