Introduction to Sheet Metal Manufacturing Processes

Sheet metal design and Sheet metal manufacturing What is the process of sheet metal processing? What are the precautions for the design, manufacturing, and processing of sheet metal parts? Sheet metal parts have their own processing technologies, and there are many precautions during processing. So, let's learn about the sheet metal manufacturing process together!

1. Design and draw sheet metal part drawings to show the structure of the sheet metal parts on the drawings.

2. Draw the unfolded drawing. In other words, unfold the complex components on a flat plate.

3. Procurement

Sheet metal manufacturing There are many ways to input raw materials, mainly including the following methods.

a. Cutting bed materials

Use the base to cut out the longitudinal and transverse dimensions of the unfolded drawing. If there are punches and chamfers, rotate the punch press to form the punch and chamfer mold.

b. Punching materials

Use a press to punch the structure of the flat parts of the components unfolded on the sheet metal in one or more steps. Its advantages are short working hours, high efficiency, and reduced processing costs. It is often used in mass production.

c. CNC blanking

When CNC blanking, first prepare the CNC processing program. That is, use programming software to write the drawn unfolded drawing into a program that the CNC machine can recognize. Follow these steps step by step to place them on the iron plate and punch out the structural shape of the flat plate.

d. Laser blanking

Use laser cutting to cut the structural shape of the flat plate component on an iron plate.

4. Flanging and tapping

Flanging, also called punching, is to drill a slightly larger hole in a small base hole to allow the wire to pass through the punch. This can increase strength and prevent sliding teeth. Generally used for sheet metal processing with thinner plates. For thicker plates, such as 2.0, 2.5 and above.

5. Punching processing

Common punching processes include punching angles, punching materials, embossing, punching, and punching, to achieve the processing purpose. That processing requires suitable molds. There are embossing dies for embossing, and tearing forming dies for punching.

6. Riveting

Rivets, rivet nuts, and rivet screws are often used in rivet fastening, but the rivet fastening method generally uses a punch press or hydraulic riveting to work, riveting on the sheet metal.

7. Bending

Sheet metal bending refers to folding a 2D flat plate into a 3D part. That processing requires a bending machine and corresponding bending dies. It also has a certain bending sequence, the principle is to bend first without interfering with the next cut, and then bend the interfering ones.

8. Welding

Welding refers to welding multiple parts together to achieve the processing purpose, or welding the edges of each part together to increase strength. Its processing side generally includes CO2 gas shielded arc welding, arc welding, spot welding, robot welding, etc. The choice of these welding methods depends on the actual requirements and materials.

9. Surface treatment

Sheet metal manufacturing Surface treatments include phosphating film, galvanizing, chromate, baking paint, and oxidation. Phosphating film is generally used for cold-rolled plates and electrolytic plates. Its main function is to coat a protective film on the surface of the material to prevent oxidation; moreover, it can improve the adhesion of coating.

10. Assembly

Assembly refers to combining multiple parts or components in a certain way to become a complete material. It should be noted that the material needs to be protected and cannot have scratches. Once the assembly is complete, if the material is damaged and cannot be used, rework is required, wasting a lot of processing time and increasing the cost of materials, so special attention should be paid to material protection.