Sheet metal cutting involves the use of machines, equipment and tools designed to cut sheet metal in predetermined areas. Small workshops often use hand tools for custom metal cutting. Tools such as straight knives, power shears, dovetail shears, perforation shears and other cutting equipment.
However, companies that mass-produce sheet metal products typically use stamping operations. When stamping is used in the workshop, it greatly eliminates the danger of irregularities and errors (especially tolerances, etc.) on the workpiece, works faster, and can increase productivity. Using this method also minimizes material waste.
The most common form of stamping (also known as cold stamping) is the assembly of a die and die, with the entire assembly called a stamping machine.
In addition, stamping simplifies and speeds up the work. Major sheet metal manufacturers use punching machines with various punches and dies to cut, bend, punch, shape, and perform other operations to produce a fully functional product.
Here are a few tips worth mentioning: sheet metal is less than 6 mm (nearly 1/4 inch) thick, and thicker sheet metal is often referred to as "sheet metal". The press can be used for sheet metal or sheet metal.
Sheet metal cutting process
While the machine can cut, bend, etc., it can also perform functions other than cutting and separating (or splitting), such as shaping. In this article, we will focus on some basic sheet metal cutting techniques.
Straight cut (scissors) with angled blade
Straight cutting (also known as shearing) is one of the simplest stamping operations when cutting sheet metal. This process involves cutting in a straight line (offset) and is usually done when separating large sheets of paper. A metal plate is placed between two cutting edges with angled blades (4 to 15 degrees inclination) to reduce friction.
Most large manufacturing plants typically use a bevel angle of less than 9 degrees for fast, fast cutting. In addition, the angle of the punch reduces the maximum force required to separate the metal. Using this method, the process can be quickly and accurately repeated after each cut.
Empty
Punching operations are sheet metal cutting processes in which large pieces (called blanks) of a blank (or product) are cut from a larger portion of the blank (pieces of sheet metal from which the product is cut). Empty sections are those that can be further processed into the desired design.
The panel can complete the blanking and closing circuit. However, as with most sheet metal cutting methods, this operation will result in a certain amount of scrap. System designers can minimize waste by properly programming the design symmetrically before actual work on the shop floor.
The technologies for punching and cutting perforated sheet metal have similar processes, but they should not be confused with each other. The difference is that in punching, the cut out part is a workpiece to be further processed, while in punching, the cut part becomes waste. The punching process can be divided into conventional punching or precision punching.
Here is a simple illustration of the difference between punching and punching operations:
Cut and split (or split)
Cutting and parting off operations in the sheet metal cutting process are two of the most important technologies in the metalworking industry. Depending on the design, the cutoff point is not necessarily a straight line, but may be a curved line or other geometric contour.
During trimming, designers can manipulate their design with minimal material. Sheet metal is almost always cut in one direction when cutting, minimizing material waste.
When splitting, the shape may not exactly match the workpiece, because the geometric pattern of the workpiece can lie on two paths at the same time. This will result in a lot of waste. The difference in design layout between notching and parting off is unique to this sheet metal cutting technique, however, they are basically similar in process.
Pierce
Similar to stamping operations, sheet metal punching is often done in decorative and other spectacular ways using round holes {0.04 to 3 inches (1 to 1.75 mm) in size} and other geometric shapes. But these holes have industrial uses in sheet metal work, and some are used for exterior finishes.
These openings are commonly used for ventilation, fluid filtration, and other industrial applications. Sheet metal is also perforated for various mechanical and structural purposes to minimize weight or for decorative purposes.
Slotted and semi-slotted
The grooving operation in sheet metal cutting requires waste to be removed from the warehouse to form useful blanks. The cutting starts at the edge and continues inward to obtain a finished product with a given profile.
The grooving process is a step-by-step operation in which each stroke of the punch removes another piece of the workpiece to create the correct profile. Half cut, on the other hand, refers to removing material past the edge of the workpiece.
These two identical operations are almost always performed together. The only difference between these two operations is that half grooving is part of a step-by-step cutting procedure that creates a profile with a unique design.
The difference between sheet metal cutting and shapingWhen focusing on sheet metal forming operations, keep this tip in mind. Forming operations that can be performed on a work press include bending, stretching, and extrusion. Following are some of the differences in sheet metal cutting and shaping:
- Cutting:
-Shaping operation:
This is the end of this introduction for you. Welcome to join us and learn more about sheet metal processing.