Sheet Metal & Tools
Sheet Metal• What is Sheet metal?• What do we use sheet metal for?• What are some common sheet metal tools?
What is Sheet Metal?
• Metal that has been rolled into a sheet having a thickness between foil and plate.– greater than 1/64 in. and no larger than 1/4 in
Sheet Metal Use
• Many useful durable goods like:– Cars, Equipment, Cabinetry, Duct Work, Toys, etc.
Sheet Metal Tools
• 3 Main Classifications of Tools– Cutting– Bending
(Forming)– Joining
Sheet Metal Cutting Tools
• Shears– Handheld– Table/Floor Mounted
• Snips– Offset– Duckbill– Aviation
• Nibblers
Sheet Metal Shears
• “Think” Scissors• Handheld• Bench/Floor Mounted
Sheet Metal Snips
• Three Main Types– Aviation– Duck Bill– Offset
Aviation Snips
• Cut easier because of compound leverage.
Duckbill Snips
• Used for cutting circles, and other curved designs
• Can cut either direction
Offset Snips
• For cutting long inside radiuses
• Cut in one (R or L) direction only
Sheet Metal Nibblers
• Take little “bites”• Manual• Powered• Create “Scrap”
Sheet Metal Forming
• Brake– Bends sheet stock at
an angle.
• Pliers– Like a handheld
brake.
• Press– Creates complex
shapes (stamping).
Sheet Metal Forming - Brake• Two types– Cornice Brake• All bends in one
direction
– Box and Pan Brake• Removable fingers
allow 90° rotation
Box and Pan Brake
Sheet Metal Forming - Pliers
• Great for small bends
Sheet Metal Forming - Press
• Use a Press to make stampings – Complex shape from one solid piece of sheet
metal.
Joining Sheet Metal
• Mechanical Fasteners
• Welding• Adhesives
Joining Sheet Metal
• Mechanical Fasteners– Threaded Fasteners– Rivets
Joining Sheet Metal
• Welding– Spot– MIG/TIG
Joining Sheet Metal
• Adhesives– Epoxy
The End
