Sheet metal processing includes traditional cutting, blanking, bending forming, and other methods and process parameters, as well as various cold stamping, die structures and process parameters, various equipment working principles and operation methods, as well as new stamping technology and new process. After the cold working of sheet metal, the thickness of sheet metal parts can be changed to a more fixed thickness. However, as sheet metal for different purposes, we need to choose different sheet metal materials.

We can see what equipment we need through the sheet metal processing process. The four most important steps of the sheet metal process are cutting, punching/cutting/, folding/rolling, and welding.

What equipment is needed for sheet metal processing?

Step 1: cut

To cut the plates to the corresponding size, the required equipment includes plate shears or laser cutting machines. Traditional plate shears can only cut plates. Now the laser cutting technology is mature, and the laser cutting machine is used to cut plates. The laser cutting precision is high, the automation flexibility is strong, the range of applicable materials is wide, and the shape and size that can be cut are unlimited.

Step 2: punching / cutting

For punching, drawing, and riveting plates, the required equipment includes a press, rivet machine, and so on.

Step 3: fold / roll

To bend and curl the plate, the required equipment includes a bending machine, rounding machine, etc. Now, in addition to the traditional manual bending machine, there are also automatic bending machines and robot arms.

Step 4: Welding

The required equipment for splicing plates to form sheet metal parts includes an arc welding machine, resistance welding machine, touch welding machine, or robot arm.

Problems needing attention in surface treatment of sheet metal processing

1. All electrochemical treatment should be carried out under the condition of parts because the chemical solution in the treatment process will be trapped in the gap of components and lead to corrosion.

2. Spot welded parts can be chemically treated, but cannot be electrochemically treated.

3. Aluminum alloy castings cannot be anodized with sulfuric acid. Slender tubular parts are usually not suitable for electrochemical treatment because there is no film on their inner surface; (special measures can be taken to meet the requirements under special circumstances) after electroplating, the inner surface of deep groove or fine hole parts will not be completely covered by the coating.

4. Steel parts shall be phosphate before spraying to increase the adhesion of the coating.

5. Steel parts plated with bright nickel can be coated with copper or dark nickel primer to improve their corrosion resistance.

6. Zinc-based alloys generally use electroplated coatings as protective decorations. To improve the adhesion of the coating, copper or nickel should be pre-plated first.

7. Since most organic gases have a corrosive effect on zinc when designing metal plate processing, the zinc coating should be carefully selected to make it in contact with organic materials or assembled in the same enclosure.

8. For electroplated parts with riveting requirements, the processing procedure must be electroplated first and then riveted.