Sheet Metal Fabrication: Types and Process
For the making of machines and structures, the need for sheet metal fabrication arises. The process of manufacturing the desired structures from a metal sheet is called fabrication. The metal sheet is fabricated as per the engineering requirements using several processes like cutting, bending, notching, shrinking, and beading; to name a few. Various engineering tools are used to build several parts and components from the metal sheets. 1. Cutting Process The metal sheets are generally rectangular and flat. Cutting is the first step for any fabrication need. A metal sheet can be cut using a shear or laser beams and there are many tools for sheet cutting. 2. Bending or Folding Folding or bending is the next step for metal fabrication. This is done using various tools such as press brakes for creating V-bends, U-bends or other custom forms. Rotary bending is also used to create new forms. 3. Machining Removing the waste materials from cut shee