Here at VIP we have a wide range of customers that we work with. Some of which are not familiar with metal manufacturing and what metal manufacturing entails. So we’ve decided to do a brief on the topic of sheet metal. You will see that sheet metal isn’t as foreign to us as you may think because we use sheet metal products on a daily basis! So let’s get started….
The term “sheet metal” refers to any type of metal that is of various thicknesses. Sheet metal can be formed into a desired shape, shapes can be punched or laser cut, finished, and can have various uses. Many people who aren’t familiar with the metal industry tend to think of sheet metal as having to do with industrial applications. However, this is entirely incorrect! When you look around you, there are many things that are made from sheet metal. These may include:
- Street signs
- License plates
- HVAC ducts
- Computer chassis
- Filing cabinets
- Airplane wings
- Mailboxes
- Kiosks
- Car body
- Hospital tables
- Restaurant counter tops
- Public restroom toiletry dispensers
These are only a few things you might notice on a day to day basis that are made from sheet metal. But the truth is there are many things we use on a daily basis that are from sheet metal. Crazy to think about huh!
Sheet metal can come in various thicknesses. Some sheet metal might be as thin as foil or as thick as ¼”. Sheet metal can also come in various alloys of metals. For example for aluminum, there are hundreds of combinations of alloys of aluminum that sheet metal can come in which is pertinent to the durability and look of the metal.
It takes a very skilled worker to know how to use metal and know the engineering behind fabricating with it. For instance, if there is a hole in the metal, and you go to bend the metal at a 90˚ angle near the hole, it is very critical on how you would go about bending the metal to not distort the hole and stretching the hole.
The fabrication of sheet metal is really an art that has become a dying trade in the US. Be sure to stay tuned for our next blog entry where we take sheet metal a bit further into how the manufacturing of sheet metal is an art!
Here at VIP, we have mastered the skill of fabricating sheet metal with over a millennium’s worth of experience under one roof. We have the capabilities to hold very tight tolerances, punch, laser, form, weld, and finish. Visit our website to learn more information about our metal fabrication capabilities at www.Vista-Industrial.com and to Request a quote!