Sheet Metal Manufacturing Technology
Sheet metal can be bent, crimped, stamped, stamped, spun, cut, welded or stretched to form the shape and structure desired by the manufacturer. This high degree of versatility makes sheet metal the material of choice for a variety of industries that require some kind of custom fabrication.
Advanced Steel Construction introduces the basic techniques of sheet metal fabrication here.
Sheet Metal Manufacturing Technology
bent metal
Process done by hammering or bending machine
Form Bending - This is the easiest way to bend metal. In this method, you bend metal onto an edge or shape. You can also use a hammer and a forming cart to bend the metal into the desired shape.
Metal Stoppers - Metal stoppers are the most common way to make clean, precise bends in metal. Metal brakes work by placing the metal on a flat gating surface, then clamping the flat bar on top of the metal and lifting the gating section, bending the metal to the desired angle. Most metal brakes can be bent to over 90 degrees. We carry a wide selection of different sheet metal brakes on our website.
cutting metal
Hand Scissors – The most basic and fundamental metal cutting tool in the metal fabrication field.
Electric Shears – You can cut sheet metal faster and with less manual effort than manual shears. Power shears come in many forms, including air and electric. Most are unable to cut tight corners or complex shapes, and generally waste material.
Throatless snips - These snips are designed to allow you to cut metal in straight lines or shapes without damaging the edges. Throatless snips are manually operated with no wasted material.
Angle Grinder – An electric angle grinder is a hand-held tool that cuts through metal by rotating an attached disc or wheel. For cutting, the 0.045" thick wheel should be used, which will cut through virtually any thickness of steel. They were loud and chaotic, but they still got the job done.
Plasma Cutters – Plasma cutters work by sending an arc of gas through a narrow opening. This raises the temperature of the gas to the point where it enters the fourth state of matter: plasma. Plasma cutters can cut sheet metal quickly while still maintaining high precision. They can be as powerful or as delicate as you wish. They're great for long, straight cuts and require little cleanup.
stretched metal
Hammer and Cart - The most basic method of stretching metal, holding an object behind the metal, and hitting the other side with a hammer.
Stretcher - This is a mechanically operated tool that places metal between two flat textured jaws and slowly pulls the metal apart each time a lever or foot pedal is depressed.
English Wheel - Also known as a roller machine, the metal is stretched between a top roller and a bottom anvil. British wheels are commonly used to make automotive panels for passenger car manufacturing, aircraft skins, etc.
shrink metal
Folding - Folding metal was one of the earliest methods of shrinking metal, and involved hammering the metal into bundles and forming them into shapes.
Retractor - Textured jaws squeeze the sheet metal from the top and bottom and press them tightly together. This method is slower than hemming, but more precise and leaves minimal damage.
Heat Shrinking - This method takes a lot of practice and requires the fabricator to heat the overstretched area with a torch and then shrink it as it cools.
metal fusion
The most common type of metal fusion is welding.
Oxy-Fuel Welding – The oldest welding method, uses oxygen and acetylene mixed together with an adjustable torch to create a precise, controlled flame. This method takes a lot of practice to master, but produces the softest, most pliable, and easiest-to-smooth welds.
TIG welding – uses a "torch" with a non-consumable electrode that creates a small, precise arc to melt the base metal. TIG welds are the second softest weld, but also the most difficult to master. TIG welding is more precise than oxy-fuel welding and is the preferred choice of most modern professional fabricators.
MIG Welding - The most common and probably the easiest form of welding to learn. This method uses a motor to push the filler wire through the tip of a MIG gun. The wire then completes the circuit when it contacts the base metal and melts the wire into the solder joint, fusing the metals together. MIG welding produces sparks and requires more cleanup than the other methods above. It's also the hardest weld, so it's harder to grind and hammer flat.
When you are looking for a company to fabricate large sheet metal projects, you want to be sure that your work will be done with a high level of workmanship.
Whatever the project, EMAX will work with you to ensure that your sheet metal goals are achieved in a timely, professional manner with exceptional results.
Contact EMAX today or call +86-571-83737375 to discuss your project details and request a quote. We look forward to cooperating with you.
