What is sheet metal processing

Sheet metal is a thin, flat sheet of metal formed through an industrial process. Sheet metal is one of the basic forms used in metal processing. It can be cut and bent into various shapes. Countless daily necessities are made of metal plates. Thickness can vary greatly; extremely thin sheets are considered foils or leaves, and sheets thicker than 6 mm (0.25 inches) are considered steel plates or "structural steel."

Sheet metal has flat parts or tape forms. The coil is formed by passing a continuous sheet of metal through a rolling machine.

In most parts of the world, sheet metal thickness is always specified in millimeters. In the United States, the thickness of a metal sheet is usually specified by a traditional non-linear measurement called thickness. The larger the specification number, the thinner the metal. The commonly used steel plate thickness ranges from No. 30 to No. 7 or so. Ferrous metals (iron-based) metals and non-ferrous metals (such as aluminum or copper) have different specifications. For example, the thickness of copper is measured in ounces and represents the weight of copper contained in a square foot area. Parts made of sheet metal must maintain a uniform thickness to achieve the desired results.

There are many different metals that can be made into metal plates, such as aluminum, brass, copper, steel, tin, nickel, and titanium. For decorative purposes, some important metal plates include silver, gold, and platinum (platinum metal plates are also used as catalysts).

Sheet metal is used in car and truck (truck) bodies, aircraft fuselages and wings, medical tables, building (construction) roofs, and many other applications. Metal plates made of iron and other high permeability materials, also called laminated steel cores, are used in transformers and motors. Historically, an important use of metal plates was the armor worn by cavalry, and metal plates continued to have many decorative uses, including horse nails. Sheet metal workers are also called "tin knockers" (or "tin knockers"), the name comes from hammering the panel joints when installing tin roofs.