What Are the Specific Processing Steps in Sheet Metal Fabrication?
Sheet metal fabrication involves processing metallic sheets to create various products, such as chimneys, iron barrels, and oil cans. With the increasing popularity of sheet metal fabrication, it has become a preferred method for producing durable and long-lasting products, as opposed to using plastic.
There are two main methods of sheet metal fabrication: non-die processing and die processing. Although their processes are similar, they generally follow these key steps:
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Design: The design department creates images of the sheet metal components based on requirements and presents them in 3D format. This helps the manufacturing department to process the components accurately and fully illustrates the specific structure of the sheet metal parts.
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Cutting: The next step involves cutting the provided component images. The cutting methods include:
- Shearing
- Punching
- CNC (Computer Numerical Control) cutting
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Riveting: During riveting, attention must be paid to the direction of the rivet. This can be done using a punch press or hydraulic riveter to process the sheet metal.
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Welding: Ensure the welding is solid by creating a protrusion on the welding surface so that it contacts the flat surface properly. During welding, factors such as welding time and pressure must be carefully controlled.
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Forming: This step involves bending and stretching the sheet metal. The bending sequence should generally proceed from the inside to the outside, from smaller to larger bends, prioritizing special shapes before general ones.
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Surface Treatment: Based on customer requirements, a protective coating may be applied to the sheet metal surface to enhance paint adhesion. With advancements in laser cutting machine automation, the sheet metal fabrication process has evolved to include unmanned operations, reducing labor costs and significantly improving production efficiency and quantity. This automation plays a significant role in the future development of sheet metal fabrication.