Sheet Metal Fabrication Materials for Custom Parts

Material and Fabrication Scope at ShincoMetal

Start with the material, thickness and overall geometry of your part. The following routine working ranges provide an initial reference for project screening.

Our routine flat-blank envelope is up to 3,000 × 1,500 mm. This is a cutting reference, not a maximum finished-part size. Formed-part feasibility also depends on bend length, flange height, tool access, bend sequence and interference.

The ranges above are screening references rather than a guarantee that every geometry can be produced. Small flanges, tight radii, deep returns, holes close to bends and welded assemblies require drawing review. Requirements outside the routine range may also be submitted for assessment.

Specialist finishing is coordinated with external processing suppliers where required. Finish compatibility, masking, cosmetic requirements and any dimensional allowance must be agreed for the specific part.

For a project review, send the exact grade and condition, decimal thickness, flat or overall dimensions, drawing revision, quantity and finish requirements. Identify critical interfaces and tolerances so material selection, manufacturing sequence and inspection can be considered together. Any material substitution or design change requires approval before production.

Aluminum: Balance Strength with Bendability

5052-H32 is a common starting point for bent housings and covers. For more readily formed, lightly loaded parts, 3003-H14 may also be worth evaluating.

6061-T6 can suit higher-strength requirements, but a tight bend that works in 5052 may crack in 6061-T6. Bend feasibility depends on temper, thickness, inside radius, rolling direction, tooling and the bending method.

Welding 6061-T6 changes local mechanical properties. Annealing or changing temper also changes the design basis and should be treated as an engineering decision.

For purchasing, specify the alloy, temper, decimal thickness and applicable product standard. ASTM B209/B209M is a common reference for aluminum sheet and plate.

Stainless Steel: Consider Exposure and Surface Condition

304 and 304L suit many general equipment applications. Molybdenum in 316 and 316L improves resistance to chloride-related pitting compared with 304, but neither grade is immune to corrosion.

Temperature, salt concentration, cleaning chemicals, crevices and surface condition influence performance.

Stainless steel work hardens during forming, affecting forming force, springback and bend sequence. Low-carbon grades help reduce sensitization risk during welding, while weld cleaning and the final surface condition remain important.

For visible panels, define the finish, grain direction, weld locations and acceptable surface marks. A 2B mill finish and a No. 4 directional finish produce different results.

ASTM A240/A240M is a common specification reference for stainless steel sheet and plate.

Carbon and Coated Steels: Define the Protection System

Cold rolled steel is commonly considered for painted brackets, chassis and enclosures. Its corrosion protection depends on the selected finish and service environment.

Galvanized sheet has a zinc coating. Galvannealed sheet has a zinc-iron alloy coating and is commonly used beneath paint.

Cutting exposes edges, forming can damage coatings, and welded areas may need a specified method of restoring protection. Welding coated steel also requires appropriate process controls, including fume extraction.

G90 and A60 are coating designations, not base-steel grades or sheet thicknesses. For coated sheet, specify both the base-steel designation and coating requirement. ASTM A653/A653M is a common reference.

Copper and Brass: Specify the Functional Requirement

C110 electrolytic tough-pitch copper is widely used for electrical and thermal components. C101 oxygen-free electronic copper is considered where purity and oxygen content are important.

C260 cartridge brass offers useful cold-forming characteristics, although its conductivity is substantially lower than that of high-conductivity copper.

For electrical parts, conductivity alone does not determine current capacity. Cross-section, temperature rise, joint resistance, duty cycle and the installation environment also matter.

Specify the alloy, temper, electrical requirements and contact finish. ASTM B152/B152M is a common reference for copper sheet and strip; ASTM B36/B36M covers brass sheet and strip.

Match the Finish to the Material and Function

A finish affects more than appearance. It can change corrosion behavior, electrical contact, dimensions and assembly fit.

The treatments below are options to evaluate, not a statement that every process is available for every project.

Define Material and Finished-Part Acceptance

A useful quality requirement connects the incoming material to the features that matter on the finished component.

Material Identity and Traceability

A mill test report can identify the material designation, heat or lot, chemical composition and reported mechanical properties.

Traceability also needs a defined link between those records and the supplied parts, including after sheets are cut into smaller blanks.

Positive material identification can support alloy verification when included in the agreed scope. The method must suit the requirement: handheld XRF cannot reliably distinguish low-carbon stainless grades by carbon content.

State the required material records and traceability level in the RFQ.