--- title: "Sheet Metal Fabrication Services | Cut, Bent & Welded | OpenSpindle" description: "Get quotes for custom sheet metal parts from independent fab shops. Laser and plasma cutting, press-brake bending, and welding in aluminum, steel, and stainless. Upload a drawing." canonical: https://openspindle.com/capabilities/sheet-metal-fabrication --- # 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. ## 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. [Browse all sheet metal shops](https://openspindle.com/manufacturers?capability=Press%20brake%20forming) ## 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. - [Aluminum](https://openspindle.com/materials/aluminum.md) -- 5052 · 6061 - [Mild steel](https://openspindle.com/materials/carbon-steel.md) -- CRS · HRPO - [Stainless steel](https://openspindle.com/materials/stainless-steel.md) -- 304 · 316 - [Copper](https://openspindle.com/materials/copper.md) -- C110 - [Brass](https://openspindle.com/materials/brass.md) -- C260 - [Titanium](https://openspindle.com/materials/titanium.md) -- Grade 2 ## Tolerances | Feature | With drawing | No callout | | --- | --- | --- | | 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. ## Threads, Inserts & Finishing PEM-style self-clinching nuts, studs, and standoffs pressed into the sheet, plus tapped and countersunk holes done in the flat. Applied after forming. Bare ships fastest; powder coat, plating, and anodize are common on fabricated sheet parts. | Finish | Materials | Adds | Stacks 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. ## What Makes a Good RFQ | Instead of | Send | | --- | --- | | "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. ## Industries Served - Electronics enclosures - Industrial equipment - Automotive - Aerospace - Energy - Robotics - Signage & displays - Consumer products Fab shops on OpenSpindle build enclosures, brackets, panels, and chassis for a wide range of industries. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### What thickness of sheet metal can shops cut and bend? 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. ### Should I send a flat pattern or a 3D model? Both if you can. A flat DXF drives the cutting and a 3D STEP model confirms the bends and hardware. If you only have a 3D model, shops can unfold it, and if you only have a flat pattern, note the bend lines and angles. ### What is the minimum bend radius? A safe default is an inside radius equal to the material thickness. Tighter radii can crack aluminum or need special tooling. Call out the inside radius on your drawing so the shop tools it correctly. ### Can shops install hardware and weld assemblies? Yes. Self-clinching PEM nuts, studs, and standoffs press into the flat, and shops weld multi-part assemblies. Note hardware part numbers and weld locations in your request. ### Is there a minimum order? No. Shops cut single prototypes and production runs. Expect a setup and programming charge on one-offs that drops on repeat orders. ### What finishes are available? Powder coat, wet paint, zinc and other plating, anodize on aluminum, and bare deburred. Weld and assemble first, then finish, so coatings go on cleanly. ## Other Capabilities - [Laser Cutting](https://openspindle.com/manufacturers?capability=Laser%20cutting) - [Plasma Cutting](https://openspindle.com/manufacturers?capability=Plasma%20cutting) - [Waterjet Cutting](https://openspindle.com/manufacturers?capability=Waterjet%20cutting) - [Welding](https://openspindle.com/manufacturers?capability=Welding) - [Tube Bending](https://openspindle.com/manufacturers?capability=Tube%20bending) - [Powder Coating](https://openspindle.com/manufacturers?capability=Powder%20coating) - [CNC Machining](https://openspindle.com/capabilities/cnc-machining.md) - [CNC Routing](https://openspindle.com/capabilities/cnc-routing.md) ## Design Notes That Move Your Price 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. ## Get sheet metal quotes Upload a flat pattern or a model once and compare quotes from independent fab shops.