Metal fabrication is essential in many industries, particularly in the manufacturing sector. It involves diverse processes and technologies to create the desired metal parts and structures. Custom metal fabrication typically employs a combination of several techniques including bending, cutting, and assembly. The ultimate objective of the entire process is to achieve the size and appearance of metalwork according to the needs of the customers. Each technique is used to add value to the metal part at work. However, in order to successfully create the parts from metal sheets, there are some strict rules to be followed by metal fabricators to effectively do the job.
Moreover, in general, a controlled machine performs a precise cut to form the metal sheet into a finished product. But since metal parts are made from a single metal sheet, part or product designs must have a uniform thickness. So, to ensure that the end result of sheet metal fabrication falls closer to design, adherence to the following rules must be strictly considered.
#1. Bending rule
Metal sheets are bent into the desired geometry using brakes. In order to prevent part reorientation bends in a single plane are designed in one direction only. Though small bends in thick, bigger parts must be avoided as much as possible as they have the tendency to become imprecise. Furthermore, fabricators must also ensure that the inside bend radius is at least one material thickness away prevents distorted or fractured parts. Overall, the bending rule in sheet metal fabrication is making sure that bends are at least 6 times the thickness of the material plus the curl’s radius.
#2. Rules in creating holes, notches, and tabs
Since holes and slots can be distorted if made near bends, their distance from a bend must be carefully decided upon. The decision is affected by three major factors, including bend radius, holes and slots diameter, and material or metal sheet thickness. Fabricators must be aware of these factors to prevent damage to the part. Likewise, during sheet metal fabrication, the creation of notches and tabs is often required. In terms of dimension, a notch should have the same thickness as the material or at least 1mm thick and this applies exactly the same to tabs but they should have a greater thickness than notches, with at least 3.2mm or twice the thickness of sheet metal.
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