Sheet metal fabrication from independent fab shops
Cut, bent, and welded sheet metal parts, from brackets and enclosures to panels and chassis. Upload a flat pattern or a 3D model and hear back from shops set up for sheet work.
STEP · STL · IGES · DWG · DXF · PDF · and more
Uploads are secure & confidential
Sheet metal shops on OpenSpindle
Real shops that cut, bend, and weld sheet metal. See their equipment and talk to the person making your part.
★ Top rated
"Precision Waterjet & CNC Plasma Cutting for Any Material, Any Design."
"Multi material experiential and retail fabrication in Brooklyn"
"Custom metal fabrication and precision machining in Baton Rouge"
"Precision Waterjet & CNC Cutting in Central Texas"
"Retail store fixtures, POP displays, and architectural millwork built under one roof"
"CNC Routing, Laser Cutting & Engraving in Fort Worth"
How it works
How OpenSpindle Works
Upload your files
Share your CAD files or drawings (STEP, DXF, DWG, PDF) and note material, tolerances, and quantity. It takes a couple of minutes.
Get matched quotes
We route your part to shops with the machines and materials to make it, and they send competitive quotes.
Compare and choose
Weigh quotes, methods, and lead times side by side, then pick the shop that fits your budget and timeline.
Sheet stock our fab shops run
Sheet metal work starts from flat stock. Common gauges are below; if your material is not here, ask when you request a quote.
Specs
Tolerances you can expect
| Feature | With a drawing | No drawing supplied |
|---|---|---|
| Cut edge (laser) | ±0.005 in | ±0.010 in |
| Bend angle | ±1° | ±2° |
| Hole-to-edge | ±0.010 in | ISO 2768 Medium |
| Bend-to-hole | ±0.015 in | ISO 2768 Medium |
Every bend stacks tolerance. Dimension from a single datum edge, not bend-to-bend, and shops hold tighter. Confirm on your drawing before cutting.
Secondary operations
Inserts, hardware and finishing
Threads and inserts
PEM-style self-clinching nuts, studs, and standoffs pressed into the sheet, plus tapped and countersunk holes done in the flat.
Finishing
Applied after forming. Bare ships fastest; powder coat, plating, and anodize are common on fabricated sheet parts.
| Finish | Materials | Adds | Can be applied with |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bare / deburred | All | +0 days | Anything |
| Powder coat | Steel, aluminum | +3-5 days | After welding and hardware |
| Zinc plating | Steel | +3-5 days | Before powder coat |
| Anodize | Aluminum | +3-5 days | Not over welds |
Weld first, finish last. Powder coat over a weld hides it; anodize over a weld will not take evenly.
Get a better quote
Getting a quote that comes back fast
| Instead of | Send this |
|---|---|
| "Sheet metal bracket, need a quote" | "0.063 in 5052 aluminum, 4 bends, qty 25, powder coat RAL 9005" |
| "With some holes" | "Holes and PEM locations per the flat DXF, hardware called out" |
| "Bent to shape" | "Bend angles and inside radii on the drawing, dimensioned from the left edge" |
Send a flat DXF plus a 3D model if you have one. Material, gauge, bend count, and hardware are what set the price.
Applications
Industries we serve
Fab shops on OpenSpindle build enclosures, brackets, panels, and chassis for a wide range of industries.
More on OpenSpindle
Other capabilities
Need a different process? Browse shops for these too.
Designing for this process
What actually changes your quote
Not a definition of sheet metal fabrication. The design choices that move your price and lead time.
Keep bends on one datum
Dimension every feature from a single edge, not bend-to-bend. Bends stack tolerance, so chained dimensions drift and cost inspection time.
Respect the bend radius
Holes and features too close to a bend distort. Keep them at least 2.5x thickness plus the bend radius away from the bend line.
One material and gauge
Mixing thicknesses or materials in one part means multiple setups. A single gauge keeps it a single cut-and-form flow.
Add bend relief
A relief notch at the end of a bend stops tearing and bulging at the corner. It is a few seconds in CAD that saves a scrapped part.
Questions
Frequently asked questions
Most fab shops cut and form from about 0.024 in up to 0.250 in, with plasma and heavier brakes going thicker. Note your gauge and material in the request and shops confirm what they can form.
Get sheet metal quotes
Upload a flat pattern or a model once and compare quotes from independent fab shops.
STEP · STL · IGES · DWG · DXF · PDF · and more
Uploads are secure & confidential