A Brief Introduction to Ins & Outs of Sheet Metal Fabrication

Posted by Steven Glassner on April 11th, 2018

If you are into the business of fabricating metal sheets, you must be aware about the ways in which it helps you create new metal structures, machines, and parts. Sheet Metal Fabrication involves different methods like burning, cutting, welding, shaping etc.

Now, let us go into the process of how the fabrication process takes place and what enables you to fabricate metals. Well, to undertake sheet metal fabrication at its best, you need to apply specific forces that helps you change the geometry, thickness, and shapes of metal sheets. Furthermore, if you apply a specific amount of force, you can mold the metal into several intricate shapes.

First, let us understand the advantages of Sheet Metal Fabrication then go on to know about the processes that the professionals use for sheet metal formation:

Benefits of Sheet Metal Fabrication

Sheet Metal Fabrication is the most popularly used low cost fabrication process. Using this process, the professionals can create different ranges of shapes and metal parts. As compared to the parts that are produced from block material, sheet metal fabrication uses lesser material and hence, proves to be quite economical. Also, when you combine sheet metal fabrication process with other types of processes, it offers great amount of flexibility.

Bending

As a part of the metal fabrication process, one needs to apply special force to the sheet metal and deformation happens along a single axis. If the need be, the operator can also give multiple bends to the metal and come up with a more complex shape. The bent parts are of different kinds; right from a little bracket to a large bracket of around 20 feet. Sheet metal undergoes tension and compression both during the process of bending. Hence, the inside part shortens after it is compressed and the external part stretches to a certain length after undergoing tension.

When you bend the metal sheet, it springs back a little after it is exposed to the force that bends it. This usually happens due to residual stress in the material. Now, you must overbend the sheet again to gain the desired bent and radius. Here, the final bend angle is small and its radius is large. This is referred to as the Springback Factor.

SpringBack

For bending a sheet metal, professionals make use of machine called a press brake. Search for “Amada press brake for sale” and you would find several companies that provide these brakes. Professionals can operate these brakes both manually and automatically. You can avail these brakes in several sizes right from twenty to two hundred tons based on their application.

As the part of SpringBack process, one needs to place the sheet over the die and the back gauge holds it in place so that one can punch and bend it. In case the machine is automatic, you can use hydraulic ram to force punch into the sheet. You can control the depth to ensure that you get the right bend. For generic punching, professionals tend to use standard tools. But for creating custom bends, one needs custom tools. You can buy these tools from companies that sell Amada machine replacement parts.

We hope this write-up gave you an idea about different processes used for Sheet Metal Fabrication. Keep reading this space for more.