What is Sheet Metal Manufacturing?
Find Providers For Sheet MetalSheets of metal are formed into shape and features are stamped or cut. Moderate pricing.
A variety of machines help create useful sheet metal parts.
How It Works
Sheet Metal production starts with a flat sheet of metal, such as aluminum
or stainless steel, and gets formed into the final shape by a variety of machines. Processes that can be
applied include bending, stamping, drilling, tapping, heat-treating, and many others. This process is typically
used for manufacturing but it can also be used for prototyping.
Typical Uses
- Production Parts
- Special-purpose Parts
- Rapid Prototypes
Costs
Example quotes for a 2-inch sphere:
So, you can see how volume discounts can be a big factor, especially for processes that are slow in the vertical direction.
Example quotes for a 2-inch sphere:
| Process | Qty 1 | Qty 10 |
|---|---|---|
| SLA | $376 each | $109 each |
| SLS | $501 each | $121 each |
| FDM | $182 each | $154 each |
| PolyJet | $479 each | $139 each |
| Machined Plastic | $458 each | $139 each |
| Urethane Castings | N/A | $120 each |
| Sheet Metal | N/A | Prices vary greatly depending on material and shape |
For More Information
Wikipedia article
See the Next Article: Metal Castings