Sheet metal fabrication is a necessary sector.
Necessary because we use sheet metal in various forms across all industries for numerous projects and products.
From everyday household products to steel used in construction and metal components manufactured for the agricultural and medical sectors, sheet metal fabrication is a necessary requirement to ensure products are created, and metal components are suitable for the final product to function as it is required to.
Accurate, complex, and detailed, precision fabrication uses numerous applications, processes, and techniques which we’ll explore further throughout this post.
Precision Sheet Metal Explained
Precision metal forming techniques provide a wide range of solutions and opportunities to engineers, designers, architects, and more, taking and shaping raw materials into finished, polished products or component parts for a final product.
If you look around any commercial property, your own home, even the train you take to work, planes, cars, buses, and more, precision sheet metal fabrication is everywhere.
From everyday household appliances, such as fridge freezers and microwaves to electronics, medical equipment, and metal components that support the manufacture of car parts such as doors and roofs, and even steel building structures – it’s all there.
Precision steel metal fabrication supports sectors including:
- Construction
- Automotive
- Medical
- Food and Beverage
- Electronics
- Aerospace
- Rail
- And many more.
We will look at the techniques and processes used in sheet metal works below, as it is these processes and techniques that help to create unique metal shapes or cut large sheet metal into small parts.
Processes of Precision Sheet Metal
Precision fabrication involves shaping, removing, and assembling sheet metal using a range of specific processes to produce precise metal parts with high tolerances.
Some of these tools and procedures include:
CAD software – designing your product or part clearly and with transparent specifications allows for quick and efficient production. CAD drawings help to bring ideas to life and detail what processes must be carried out to achieve the end product.
CNC cutting – using computer programming software for precision sheet metal fabrication allows for even the most complex and intricate design to be achieved.
Forming – the process of shaping sheet metal into a desired outcome is known as forming. Precision fabrication during the forming process ensures that structural integrity is not lost and quality remains high. Common forming processes include bending, stamping, rolling, and stretching.
Removing excess sheet metal – sometimes, removing burrs and excess metal is required to achieve a specific shape/outcome. To help remove excess metal, our fabricators will use techniques such as cutting, punching, shearing, and machining.
Welding – there are various welding techniques that a sheet metal contractor may use to achieve the perfect join when mating two metal parts together, from TIG, MIG, and Stick welding, working with a professional and experienced team ensures you get the best outcome.
Precision sheet fabrication is a form of manipulating sheet metal into custom parts and components for products, machines, and structures.
To find out more about some of the steelwork our team has been involved in, check out our case studies and online gallery.
Metals we work with
Sheet metal comes in various materials, and the most common sheet metals we utilise at
Morfab include:
- Steel – strong, durable, can withstand heavy loads, recyclable, and competitively priced.
- Aluminium – versatile, lightweight, corrosion resistant, strong, aesthetically pleasing.
- Stainless steel is low maintenance, fire- and heat-resistant, great for hygiene products, and versatile.
- Copper – corrosion resistant, hygienic, flexible, sustainable, and has great electrical conductivity.
- Brass – durable, easy to maintain, corrosion resistant, and has an attractive appearance.
- Other alloys
Sheet metal items
Sheet metal products can include:
- Doors and roofs of vehicles
- Refrigerator cabinets
- Cooking gas cylinders
- Ducts for HVAC systems
- Railings
- Lampshades
- Plant stands
- Design architecture/Sculptures
- And so much more.
Of course, this list is not exhaustive, but it does show the range that sheet metal fabrication can serve and the variations in complexity and intricate detail that can be achieved.
Sheet Metal Fabricators
The Morfab team are sticklers for attention to detail, which makes precision sheet metal fabrication our forte.
Using the latest precision fabrication tools and technology, we work with you to achieve not only the best solution but a solution that offers the highest quality standards. We carry out quality checks at each stage of the fabrication process and meet all specifications and requirements.
Providing you with an impressive return on your investment, we provide the best solutions using the most suitable sheet metal materials, offering you the most competitive prices.
For your next sheet metal project, speak to the experts today.
Call the Morfab team on 0191 816 2718 or email your requirements to info@morfabrication.com, and we’ll get in touch.