Whether you need a prototype or a finished product, the decisions you make will either yield something exceptional or subpar. First, always choose a company with experience. Second, ensure you select the right material. An expert in sheet metal fabrication will help you with this.
Why Does Material Matter?
It’s imperative to choose the right material for your sheet metal fabrication products. To better understand why this is so important, consider the following.
- To ensure the product’s optimal performance
- To extend a product’s life span
- To withstand the environment in which it’s used
As explained by professional precision sheet metal fabricators, there are additional reasons to select the appropriate material. You might want a specific finish that only works on one particular type of metal. Perhaps you need to stick to a tight budget, so you want a metal that’s cost-effective yet durable.
Key Factors to Know About Materials Used for Sheet Metal Fabrication
When it comes to sheet metal fabrication products, every material has distinct characteristics. When you’re ready to select a material, seek the guidance of an expert.
Whether you hire professional precision sheet metal fabricators or your company does fabrication in-house, these are the main properties of metal to consider:
- Corrosion Resistance – Over time, metal corrodes. This occurs when it’s exposed to electrical currents, hydrogen currents, and oxygen. That means the integrity of the material deteriorates. So, select the right material for your sheet metal fabrication products if you’re concerned about corrosion. If that’s the case, your best options are aluminum, stainless steel, and titanium.
- Ductility/Malleability – Leading precision sheet metal fabricators understand that some metals are more ductile or malleable than others. Those with a high level of ductility/malleability are easier to mould, bend, and shape. For example, copper is the ideal material for creating wires, while mild steel is easily rolled into flat sheets.
- Hardness – This is another important factor when selecting a material for sheet metal fabrication. The harder the metal, the more it will resist wear and tear. This type of material can withstand tremendous force.
- Tensile strength – Precision sheet metal fabricators always know a material’s tensile strength. In simple terms, this is the amount of force it can handle before it finally breaks. While stainless steel has excellent tensile strength, aluminum doesn’t.
- Weldability – It’s common to fuse material when creating sheet metal fabrication products. That’s what weldability refers to. The goal is to create a connecting joint that can handle tension without cracking or breaking.
Each of these properties impacts how materials respond to sheet metal fabrication. That is why making the correct material choice is important.
We’ll Help You Select the Appropriate Material
At Weldflow Metal Products, we take pride in providing our customers with outstanding service. For all your sheet metal fabrication products, we’ll use the appropriate material based on your target application. Contact us today for personalized service.
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