Sheet metal fabrication involves shaping and bending fine sheets of steel, aluminium, copper, and other metals into a desired shape. Increasingly, the process is tech-led and uses a variety of systems, including AI-driven precision-cutting CNC machines, tapping machines, and automated bending machines, all guided by highly experienced metal fabricators.
How is sheet metal fabrication used to bend metal into the shapes we see in commercial and consumer uses, ranging from car bonnets to mobile phone cases? Let’s take a closer look.
The approaches need to bend sheet metal
Various techniques are required to handle sheet metal bending after the cutting process is complete. At this stage of the sheet metal fabrication process, the fabricator can hand-bend for simpler bends; alternatively, they can brake form, which allows precise bends to be added to metals with different shapes and thicknesses using a V-shaped die. The press brake process is good for bending thicker sheet metal or high-volume production jobs. With this approach, a hydraulic ram shapes the metal into a die, resulting in consistent, precise bends.
How to obtain successful results
Sheet metal fabrication is a skilled process that requires both human expertise and technology. The key is to ensure the bend radius matches the spring-back potential; for this reason, fabricators often slightly over-bend metals to account for the spring-back mechanism in the end results.
To get the best results from sheet metal bending, precise tools are combined with experienced fabricators to deliver precise results. The outcome is a shaped sheet that can be incorporated into broader manufacturing.
