Laser cutting, bending, stamping and welding explained with practical DFM rules to cut your sheet metal cost.
Sheet metal fabrication turns flat sheets into enclosures, brackets, chassis and panels through cutting, bending, forming and joining. This guide explains the key processes, design rules and cost drivers.
Common Sheet Metal Processes
- Laser cutting - burr-free edges, supports steel up to 20mm
- CNC bending - press brakes form consistent angles with ±0.1mm accuracy
- Stamping - high-volume blanking, punching and forming with progressive dies
- Welding - MIG/TIG/spot welding for assembly and sealing
Design Rules to Reduce Cost
Keep bends at least 2.5x the sheet thickness apart, use standard tooling radii, and avoid features closer than the material thickness to bend lines. Standard gauge thicknesses (0.5-6mm) always cost less than exotic sizes.
Materials and Finishes
SPCC/SGCC steel, 5052/6061 aluminum and 304 stainless are the workhorses. Finishes include powder coating, anodizing, zinc plating, brushing and silk-screen logos.
Typical Applications
Electrical enclosures, EV battery boxes, server chassis, machine guards, kiosk housings and mounting brackets are the most common ANXIN sheet metal projects.