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