Aluminum Sheet Metal Fabrication
Aluminum Sheet Metal Fabrication Services
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Aluminum Gauge Chart
| Gauge Number | Inches | MM |
|---|---|---|
| 7 | .1793 | 4.554 |
| 8 | .1644 | 4.175 |
| 9 | .1495 | 3.797 |
| 10 | .1345 | 3.416 |
| 11 | .1196 | 3.038 |
| 12 | .1046 | 2.656 |
| 14 | .0747 | 1.897 |
| 16 | .0598 | 1.518 |
Aluminum Sheet Metal Grades
People create various aluminum alloys grades by add other metal elements into it to improve its physical performance. Each of the grades have their unique characteristic and suitable for different application and process technique.
In order to select the appropriate aluminum grade, it is important to understand the physical characteristics of each grade, like strength, hardness, weldability, machining, corrosion resistance, heat treating.
Here are some common general-purpose grades like 3003, 5052 or 6061 and their properties:
3003 aluminum alloy is rust-resistant, corrosion-resistant, formable, weldable, and inexpensive material.
Its strength is slightly greater than pure aluminum, and it cannot be increased by heat treatment.
It is often used in humid environments such as air conditioners, and refrigerators. It is also can be used in tanks, storage devices, heat exchangers, chemical equipment, aircraft fuel tanks, reflectors, kitchen equipment, washing machine cylinders, and lighting components.
| Tensile Strength, Yield | Shear Modulus | Elongation at Break | Hardness | Density |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 186 Mpa | 25GPa | 20% | 30Brinell | 2.68g/cm^3 |
Aluminum grade 5052 is a common material for regular sheet metal fabrication. It has more strength than both 1100 and 3003 grade aluminum, as well as adequate corrosion resistance, formability, and weldability.
It is frequently used in applications that need maximum strength, like chassis, electronic cases, parts of vehicles, instruments, fuel tanks, etc..
Aluminum 5052 cannot be heat treated.
| Tensile Strength, Yield | Shear Modulus | Elongation at Break | Hardness | Density |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 193 Mpa | 117 GPa | 18% | 60Brinell | 2.68g/cm^3 |
Aluminum 6061 is the most “general-purpose” alloy, whose alloying elements are magnesium and silicon. It has high strength, good corrosion resistance, weldability, and machinability. It can be used for aluminum extrusion, CNC Machining, and cut into various shapes. Its strength and corrosion resistance can be improved by tempering.
It is widely used for building materials, vehicles, furniture, electrical products, firearms, bicycles, and other heavy-duty applications.
Aluminum 6061 can be heat treated.
| Tensile Strength, Yield | Shear Modulus | Elongation at Break | Hardness | Density |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 276 Mpa | 96.5 GPa | 17% | 95Brinell | 2.7g/cm^3 |
1100 aluminum is pure aluminum. It has good formability, high corrosion resistance，and good plasticity. But Its strength is low.
It is usually used for sheet metal parts, such as hollow hardware, radiators, and welding assemblies. Keys, reflectors, nameplates, etc.
Manufacturing Tolerance
Our sheet metal aluminum fabrication services’ tolerance values range from +/-0.005″ (+/-0.125mm) to +/-0.001″ (0.025mm), +/- 1.0 degree tolerances on bent features and a cutout accuracy of +/- 0.020” (0.508 mm).
We can fabricate aluminum sheet metal parts from 12 in. to 90 ft. length, 0.015 to 0.125 in. material thickness.
| Lengths (mm) | Tolerance Class Designation | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fine | Medium | Coarse | ||
| 0.5 up to 6 | ±0.05 | ±0.1 | ±0.2 | |
| over 6 up to 30 | ±0.1 | ±0.2 | ±0.5 | |
| over 30 up to 120 | ±0.15 | ±0.3 | ±0.8 | |
| over 120 up to 400 | ±0.2 | ±0.5 | ±1.2 | |
| Lengths (mm) | Tolerance Class Designation | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fine | Medium | Coarse | ||
| up to 10 | ±1º | ±1º | ±1º30′ | |
| over 10 up to 50 | ±0º30′ | ±0º30′ | ±1º | |
| over 50 up to 120 | ±0º20′ | ±0º20′ | ±0º30′ | |
| over 120 up to 400 | ±0º10′ | ±0º10′ | ±0º15′ | |
Aluminum Sheet Metal Finishing
RpProto offers all finishing processes for your aluminum sheet metal parts, like anodizing, powder coating, etc.
Anodizing is the most popular surface finishes for sheet metal aluminum parts. Anodizing is the process of forming an oxide film on aluminum products (anode). After anodizing the surface of aluminum alloy parts, its wear resistance and decoration can be enhanced. Anodizing can achieve any color.
Powder coating is spraying powder on the surface of aluminum alloy parts with electrostatic powder spray gun to form a powdery coating; powder coating enhances the hardness, wear resistance, and acid resistance of parts, which can effectively prolong the service life of aluminum parts. Powder coating is a good option for coloring aluminum sheet metal parts.
Aluminum Sheet Metal Application
Aluminum is the most common material for sheet metal fabrication due to its lightweight, high-strength，weldable, easy to fabricated, and corrosion-resistant properties.
The aluminum components include enclosures, housings, brackets, cabinets, panels, chassis, and framing. They are widely used in almost all industries, such as:
- Automotive
- Electronic
- Aerospace
- Medical
- Military
- Energy
Advantages of Aluminum Sheet Metal
Lightweight
Aluminum is the lightest metal materials.
Its lightweight nature makes it cost-effective solutions with weight-sensitive applications such as vehicles and aircraft.
It significantly reduce equipment weight without any compromise in load capacity or stability.
Corrosion Resistance
Aluminum generates an oxide coating that protects the material and makes it highly resistant to corrosion.
Electrical Conductivity
Aluminum is a good conductor of electricity and heat. Its properties make it popular for power transmission lines and heat sinks in electrical devices and other products.
Reflectivity and Ductility
Aluminum is a superb reflector of both heat and visible light, making it a great material for use in reflectors found in light fixtures.
Furthermore, aluminum has low melting point, density and high ductility. It is easy to bend.
