More and more sheet metal parts are being used in various aspects of our lives nowadays. So what is the general manufacturing process of sheet metal parts? How do we apply it in our work? This article will explore these contents.

There are many sheet metal parts on kitchenware

Generally speaking, sheet metal manufacturers usually follow the following steps after receiving formal production drawings from customers.

1. Check the drawings

Why do sheet metal manufacturers usually need to double check the drawings as the first step? This is because many engineers in the customer have not been exposed to the production process of sheet metal parts, and may not be proficient in the production process of sheet metal parts, so there are often details in the drawings drawn. And sheet metal manufacturers are professional and proficient in these, so sheet metal manufacturers will first check the drawings and confirm the finished product dimensions and related requirements with customers. Only after clarifying the final requirements of the customer can we proceed with the writing of the production process.

Sheet Metal Parts Drawing

2. Determine the board model and confirm the delivery date

The main purpose here is to confirm the material according to the customer's drawing requirements, and to confirm the order quantity of the board based on the order quantity. Regardless of whether the corresponding board is in stock in the factory, it is necessary to inform the customer in a timely manner. Because this directly affects the delivery time of goods, especially for customers with urgent delivery times. If the delivery time is not communicated in advance, it will be very passive in the later stage, and may even lead to breach of contract due to their own reasons. This has a negative impact on the reputation and credibility of the factory. Therefore, confirming the board model and delivery time is the first step to be taken.

Common cold-rolled sheets, available in coil and flat plate shapes

3. Manufacturing and processing technology and production process

This is the most critical place for sheet metal production. Generally speaking, the production process of sheet metal parts is as follows: ① Calculate the unfolded length and confirm the cutting size. ② Bending ③ Mechanical processing ④ Surface treatment ⑤ Packaging and shipping.

① Calculating the unfolding length is an important aspect, and we need to consider the unfolding coefficients of different materials comprehensively when calculating the unfolding length. Generally speaking, each factory has experience with the unfolding coefficients of commonly used materials, and we can apply them. If it is laser cutting, we generally do not leave any allowance. If it is cutting with a shearing machine, we need to reserve processing allowance and determine the most suitable cutting method, as this directly affects material utilization. A good cutting method must cover the entire board as much as possible while meeting the requirements of the component processing technology.

laser cutting material cutting

② Bending, we use a bending machine for this step. We can select the appropriate bending mold according to the drawing requirements. If the universal bending mold cannot meet our requirements, we may need to make specialized bending molds.

Robot operated bending machine

③ Mechanical processing, the main purpose of which is to process features that cannot be produced by cutting and bending processes. Common processes such as tapping and riveting can only be completed after bending because if these processes are performed before bending, deformation may occur during bending.

riveting process

④ Surface treatment, which is the last set of processes before shipment, mainly involves surface treatment of components according to customer drawing requirements. Common surface treatments include wire drawing, painting, oxidation, and so on.

Spray Painting Process

⑤ After packaging and shipping, we will conduct final measurements and inspections on all finished parts. The main purpose here is to inspect the quality of the appearance. Whether there are paint defects, surface quality issues, etc. Dimensional measurement is also the final verification and inspection. Generally speaking, the previous process is sufficient to ensure the accuracy of the finished product dimensions, and dimensional control is carried out during the process. If the size issue is only discovered before the final shipment, it is an unforgivable mistake for the sheet metal manufacturer, and the loss may be borne by the sheet metal parts manufacturer.

After confirming that there are no issues, we can proceed with packaging and shipping. This is the complete sheet metal production process.