Aluminum Sheet Metal Fabrication

Aluminum has a variety of different applications in modern society. It can be used for anything from a building material to an airplane’s frame, but one of its most popular uses these days is in sheet metal fabrication. Sheet metal fabrication involves cutting aluminum into shapes, bending them into curves or angles, and joining them together with rivets or welds. By using aluminum instead of other metals like steel, manufacturers can save weight while maintaining structural integrity.

There are a variety of reasons that aluminum has become one of the most common materials used in sheet metal fabrication. In addition to being lightweight, an aluminum structure can maintain strength when exposed to outside forces. It’s also easily shaped into complex curves or angles through a process known as die-stamping or bending. The tensile strength and malleability of aluminum makes it both flexible and reliable—making it ideal for building things like:

• Aircraft construction
• Building materials
• Consumer durables
• Electrical conductors
• Chemical and food-processing equipment

Aluminum is easy to shape and cut because of its low melting point. Bending pieces takes advantage of the material’s elasticity. A solid sheet of aluminum can be pulled over a die block (a type of punch) that stamps out sheets.

After the die block punches out a part, there will often be a bend in the material around the edge of where it was punched. If enough force is applied to this bend, the metal will form into whatever angle you want it to go.