Overview and Analysis of Sheet Metal Processing Technology

发布时间：2024-04-23

How is sheet metal processed?

The metal plate undergoes cutting, stamping, punching, shearing, forming, bending, welding, rolling, riveting, drilling, tapping, and machining. Hardware can be inserted into sheet metal components. Components can be painted, electroplated, anodized, powder coated, painted, silk screened, or otherwise marked. Of course, parts can be riveted, tightened, or welded into complex components. Like most other technologies today, sheet metal processing is also constantly evolving. Materials, equipment, and tools are more specialized than ever before. In order to fully utilize sheet metal, you must utilize the correct suppliers and manufacturing methods for your parts and their applications. According to the definition, sheet metal is initially a plate, but can be formed in many different ways to meet many different requirements.

The general cold forming processes include:

cutting

Cutting has long been the main method for cutting steel plates, but it has now been replaced by faster and more accurate methods.

Punching machines can be used for stamping and module cutting of metal. Compared to laser or water jet cutting, this is particularly effective for cutting relatively simple parts. Because it can run at a speed of hundreds of times per minute, the punch can quickly produce suitable parts. Punching can also be used to make holes or other cuts on parts. Combining punching machines and laser cutting can create complex flat patterns with size limited stamping features.

CNC laser cutting uses a jet of oxygen, nitrogen, helium, or carbon dioxide to burn off the metal and produce clean finished edges. The speed of this process varies with the thickness of the metal, but cutting can be very complex, with precision within a tolerance of+/-0.005 inches or stricter. Due to lack of contact, the tool will not wear out like mechanical tools. Two types of lasers are used for sheet metal processing: fiber lasers are used for thinner and more reflective materials to achieve precise cutting; Multi gas or CO2 lasers are more powerful and suitable for thicker sheets.

Photochemical processing is a controlled etching process using CAD generated templates to leave a chemically activated pattern and remove unwanted metals.

bend

Most metals can be bent along a straight axis using various presses. The curved shape can range from a gentle curve (such as a curve along the vertical axis of a steel can) to a sharp corner at 90 degrees above, below, or to the right. The bending machine is used to produce these relatively sharp bends. Rolling and forming methods generate open or closed uniaxial curves in continuous bending operations.

Most metals can be bent along a straight axis using various presses. The curved shape can range from a gentle curve (such as a curve along the vertical axis of a steel can) to a sharp angle of 90 degrees above, below, or to the right. The bending machine is used to produce these relatively sharp bends. Rolling and forming methods generate open or closed uniaxial curves in continuous bending operations.

Curled edge

This includes rolling metal shaped edges to provide smoother and more sturdy edges. The folded edge can be open, leaving an air space at the bend, or it can be closed, in which the folded metal is tightly pressed against oneself. Curling will create a circular edge on the metal sheet, also known as a barrel shaped hem. This can be used to simply eliminate sharp edges, or for specific operational functions such as door hinges, which fix the pin around which the hinge rotates.