What are the main factors affecting the price of sheet metal parts?

Material Costs: Material type and quantity used. Process Complexity: The more bending operations required, the more welding and riveting processes needed—leading to higher costs. Tolerance and Surface Requirements: Higher precision and stricter surface specifications directly increase production costs. Order Quantity: Mass production significantly spreads out the costs of tooling and programming, resulting in a substantial reduction in per-unit costs. Post-Processing and Surface Treatments: Additional costs are incurred for processes like painting, plating, and screen printing.

What are the main differences between sheet metal fabrication and CNC machining?

Material Form: Sheet metal fabrication targets thin sheets, while machining typically works with solid, block-shaped materials. Process Nature: Sheet metal processes primarily involve shaping (such as bending) and joining—essentially transforming and assembling sheet materials. Machining, on the other hand, focuses mainly on cutting, which involves removing material to achieve the desired shape. Application Areas: Sheet metal excels at producing thin-walled components like chassis, enclosures, brackets, and chassis bases; meanwhile, machining is ideal for crafting solid or intricately shaped three-dimensional parts, such as shafts, gears, and housings.

What is metal sheet metal fabrication?

Metal sheet metal fabrication is a comprehensive cold-working process tailored for thin metal sheets—typically less than 6 mm thick. Its primary operations include cutting, punching, bending, press-joining, welding, splicing, and forming, all aimed at transforming the metal sheets into desired shapes and structures through a series of precise techniques.

What is CNC machining?

CNC stands for "Computer Numerical Control." CNC machining is an automated manufacturing process that uses pre-programmed computer software to control machine tools—such as milling machines, lathes, grinders, and more. By precisely executing digital instructions, it manages the movement of both the cutting tool and the workpiece, transforming raw materials like metal or plastic into custom-designed parts.

What are the main types of CNC machining?

CNC Milling: The cutting tool rotates while the workpiece remains stationary on the table, removing material as the tool moves. Ideal for machining complex contours, slots, holes, and other features. CNC Turning: The workpiece rotates, and a stationary tool moves to cut the material. Primarily used for machining cylindrical, conical, and other rotational parts.

What documents are required for CNC machining?

3D model files: The most commonly used formats are .STEP or .IGES, as these are universal formats that effectively preserve model data. 2D engineering drawings: While the 3D model is central, 2D engineering drawings remain crucial for providing supplementary information such as key dimensions, tolerances, surface roughness, thread specifications, and heat treatment requirements.