Basic concepts and commonly used equipment for sheet metal processing

Sheet metal processing is a process of processing metal sheets into various shapes and sizes. It is widely used in machinery, electronics, home appliances, automobiles, aviation and other fields. Sheet metal processing involves cutting, stamping, bending, welding and other methods. It is necessary to select appropriate processing methods and equipment according to the design requirements and functions of the product.

The basic concepts of sheet metal processing include the following aspects:

Sheet metal material: The metal plate used in sheet metal processing is generally between 0.5~6mm in thickness. Common ones include cold-rolled steel plate, hot-rolled steel plate, galvanized steel plate, stainless steel plate, aluminum plate, copper plate, etc. Different materials have different thicknesses. Performance and use require the selection of appropriate materials according to the requirements of the product.

Sheet metal expansion diagram: In the early design stage of sheet metal processing, the three-dimensional sheet metal parts need to be expanded into a two-dimensional plan view in order to calculate the amount of material and cutting size, and to make the corresponding molds and fixtures. The production of the unfolded drawing needs to consider the structure, size, tolerance, bending radius, springback and other factors of the sheet metal parts to ensure the accuracy and feasibility of the unfolded drawing.

Sheet metal processing equipment: The mechanical equipment used in sheet metal processing mainly includes the following types:

Cutting equipment: used to cut sheet metal materials into the required shape and size. Commonly used ones include shears, punches, CNC punches, laser cutting machines, plasma cutting machines, etc. Different equipment has different cutting speeds, accuracy, and costs. and scope of application, the appropriate equipment needs to be selected according to the requirements of the product.

Stamping equipment: used for punching, stretching, forming and other operations on sheet metal materials. Commonly used ones include punch presses, hydraulic presses, stretching machines, etc. Different equipment has different stamping force, speed, accuracy and application range, which requires Choose the appropriate equipment according to the requirements of the product.

Bending equipment: used to bend sheet metal materials according to a certain angle and radius. Commonly used ones include bending machines, folding beds, etc. Different equipment has different bending forces, speeds, accuracy and application ranges, which need to be determined according to Select appropriate equipment for product requirements.

Welding equipment: used to connect sheet metal parts or with other metal parts. Commonly used ones include arc welding, gas welding, argon arc welding, CO2 shielded welding, laser welding, etc. Different equipment has different welding speeds, quality, and costs. and scope of application, the appropriate equipment needs to be selected according to the requirements of the product.

Sheet metal processing is a process with high technical content and complex processes. It is necessary to select appropriate materials, equipment and methods based on factors such as product design, function, cost, etc., to ensure product quality and efficiency.