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Sheet metal work manufactured for you direct in Great Britain

Tuesday, May 30th, 2017

Sheet metal work from Great Britain

Sheet metal work in Great Britain can take many forms. From simple CNC punched electronics front panels from aluminium alloy. Stainless steel welded fabrications used in the pumping or pharmaceutical industry. Mild steel components for industrial light fittings and ventilation grilles for the heating industry. These are all sheet metal components we often manufacture in our factory in Hampshire, Great Britain amongst thousands of other components. When you are next looking for sub-contract sheet metal work in Great Britain V and F Sheet Metal is a good place to start. With a friendly attitude to work and the ability to support you throughout your design process we are far more than just a “tin basher”.

Sheet metal fabrications in Great Britain

Here’s a great recent image of sheet metal work in Great Britain that we have made using all in house equipment. From using the latest CAD/CAM sheet metal development software to correctly calculate the blanks sizes. Laser cutting the flat sheet metal blanks. Minimal edge de-burring and CNC folding to create a finished electronics housing chassis.

Sheet metal projects manufactured in Great Britain

As well as standard housings folded with simple 45 and 90 degree bends we are asked to make far more complex shapes. By using 3D CAD/CAM to model these complex sheet metal components and the very latest CNC press brakes we can often manufacture items for you without the need for special tooling. By using a series of small bends, each step can produce a part of a much more complex compound curve. Through trial and error and flexible shop floor programming techniques most shapes are achievable. As you can see sheet metal work in Great Britain covers a wide range of designs and materials.

So what do you do now? Well you can give us a call on 01489 577786 and we will be happy to have a chat on your requirements. If you already have a fixed design then we will be happy to take a look at you CAD files whether they are in 2D or 3D format. We can produce range of prices for different volumes, design options and treatments or finishes that you require.

CNC punching sheet metal work in Great Britain by V and F Sheet Metal

Monday, May 22nd, 2017

CNC punching sheet metal work in Great Britain

It’s always been our aim to provide a flexible, quality CNC punching service at a competitive price right here in Great Britain. Investing in Trumpf CNC punch presses supported by Trumpf tooling and the latest Radan CAD/CAM sofware V and F Sheet Metal offer the complete CNC punching service.

CNC punching in Great Britain

Our Trumpf 3000 is shown here working with 0.7mm thick pre-painted white mild steel sheet. By bringing in panels cut to the most effective size waste can be kept to a minimum. CNC punch presses are perfect for producing thin gauge sheet metal components, especially if they are pre-painted or pre-anodised. If however you have requirements for components with thicker gauges then our Trumpf 3030 fibre laser will be just the machine to cut those components. Being a fibre laser cutter it can also handle your copper and brass sheet metal needs.

CNC punched heater grilles

The CNC punching techniques used to produce these panels included common line cutting to reduce time and materials. We also used the Trumpf’s programable head to produce flat panels when CNC punching the ventilation slots.

Our customer’s are increasingly finding that Great Britain is the right place to source their sheet metal work. With no language barriers, quick turn around times and no fluctuating currencies we can offer a stable helpful service. Sheet metal manufacturing is so much more than just “tin bashing”. Take a look at our website for more insights into past sheet metal projects and the help we can give you with your designs.

If you are looking to get CNC punching sheet metal work in Great Britain it’s easy. Just send us your drawings or call us and we will be happy to discuss your sheet metal project needs.

Video of Trumpf 3030 fibre laser cutting mild steel straps

Thursday, May 18th, 2017

Laser cutting mild steel sheet metal work

Fast Tube by Casper

When we need to manufacture simple sheet metal components such as these mild steel straps there are a number of ways to go about it. We could simple cut the straps to size with a guillotine and then pierce the holes using a fly press. Many years ago this would have been the preferred method of production if the volumes were not high. If the volumes were high then perhaps a dedicated press tool would have been designed and constructed. This tool would have allowed us to produce the parts quickly and cheaply. The downside would have been if any design changes were needed to the part then tool changes were expensive. We would then have moved on to CNC punching mild steel straps such as these shown in the video. This method of production allowed more freedom to change with any customer design changes. No hard tooling but software changes makes CNC punching a versatile manufacturing method and one that is still viable today. We finally end up with laser cutting mild steel straps. No tooling and complete freedom to change design when needed but with quick set up times. Laser cutting is perfect for these mild steel straps and the volume which was 750 parts were produced very quickly.

The Trumpf 3030 fibre laser shown in the video is laser cutting mild steel straps with oxygen. Any edge cutting oxidisation would have been removed when the straps were zinc plated and clear passivated. If the straps were to be powder coated we would have laser cut with pure nitrogen to remove any cutting oxidisation.

Connecting the laser cutting machine with powerful modern sheet metal work CAD/CAM software such as Radan enables us to get the best out of the machine. With the ability to change production jobs between our 2 CNC punch presses and laser cutting machine when needed enables us to be more flexible with work loads. It also enables us to bring more capacity to a large project when needed producing across all 3 sheet processing machines when needed.

Please take a look at our site to see some of the recent laser cutting sheet metal projects we have been involved with and how we can help you.

Where can I buy CNC punched sheet metal work to my designs

Monday, May 15th, 2017

Where can I buy CNC punched sheet metal work to my designs?

CNC punching nest of sheet metal parts

As a user or CNC punch presses now for over 25 years we know a thing or two about using them to produce sheet metal work. Having started with small turret machines and then larger faster turret machines we progressed to the single punching head design. As Trumpf are the best machine manufactures offering this flexible machine design, Trumpf if what we have. With this single head design CNC programming becomes much easier and more efficient when it comes to production runs and small batches.

CNC punched sheet metal work

The ability to turn any CNC tool to any angle enables us to produce more complex sheet metal components and with less tool changes. Added to the quick set up time needed on our Trumpf CNC punch presses we can offer a very flexible and competitive CNC punching service to produce your sheet metal designs. Couple this with the power of Radan sheet metal software and you have a winning formula. The Radan software really gets the best out of the machines and enables us to quickly transfer work from one to another when production requirements need to be met.

Trumpf 3000R CNC punch press in action producing circular sheet metal panels with cluster and curved banana tooling

Interesting example of CNC punching mild sheet sheet metal circles using a “banana” CNC punch tool. Tools like this enable a smooth outer circumference to be produces on a disc with just a few hit, again saving time and money.

With a huge range of CNC punch press tools in stock here you can use them to save you tooling costs when producing a new design. For more data, take a look at our Trumpf Standard 2D Tooling pages.

Call us and we will be happy to go through your designs and see how they can be effectively CNC punched from sheet metal.

Video of a CNC punch press producing light fitting reflectors

Thursday, May 11th, 2017

Light fitting reflectors

Fast Tube by Casper

When we need to produce light fitting reflectors for our UK customers we nearly always use our Trumpf CNC punch presses. Although our Trumpf 3030 fibre laser cutting is a very flexible and capable machine it cannot cut special reflector materials as cleanly as our CNC punch presses. The punch presses use no heat to cut holes and edge profiles so there is no chance of burning edges. There is also no melting of protective plastic films.

Light fitting reflectors come in a vast range of shapes and material types and CNC punching is the best way to produce them for small to large volumes. Along with the ability to use standard tooling that we have built up over many years the ease of CNC programming and speed to change designs are the main benefits. The Radan CAD/CAM software we use allow us to get the best from any sheet of material. This is vital with some of the special pre-anodised reflector aluminium material used fro light fitting reflectors being very expensive.

If you have a light fitting and it needs a sheet metal reflector we are the people to talk to. We have a range of light fitting reflector materials on the shelf you prototyping. Call us on 01489 577786 to have a talk about your project.

CNC punching techniques for sheet metal work

Monday, May 8th, 2017

CNC punching techniques cover a wide range of ideas and tooling. The ideas shown here are just a few of those that are available to us when CNC punching your sheet metal work. We work with you to develop your ideas to get the best design for manufacturing to keep your costs down.

CNC punched self tapping plunge form

This simple technique to produce a small raised area in the sheet is can be used with a self tapping screw. The deformation in the sheet creates a local thickening allowing the screw more material to cut into. This is ideal when self tapping into thin gauges such as this 0.9mm zintec panel. These formed plunges can also be used with a tapping tool on our Trumpf 3000R to produce standard metric threads straight into the sheet. We can also use these plunges to provide location points when spot welding parts together. This speeds up the spot welding or welding operations, again saving time and money.

These CNC punching techniques save money and get more from the sheet, saving time in production and part assembly

Nibbling sheet metal work with a CNC punch press

Nibbled line produced on a CNC punch press

CNC punch presses are great at nibbling (producing holes at speed close to each other). The holes can be separate or as in this example overlap. These CNC punching techniques allow a wide range of shapes to be produced in the sheet. From nibble out large cut-outs where a single hit tool would be tool large to nibble long slots or unusual shapes like those shown here.

Fan pattern produced with CNC punch tooling

Banana tools can be used to produce fan ventilation patterns

Non standard shapes can be produced with special tooling. This fan array pattern was produced using curved tooling called banana tooling. If your production requirements have enough volume it might be worth us investigating dedicated CNC punching tooling.

For more data on CNC punching take a look at “What is CNC punching?”

CSK holes for screws formed in seconds with CNC punch tooling

CNC punching techniques such as forming a CSK straight into the sheet is perfect for saving money. We simple CNC punch a pilot hole and then form the CSK with a single hit. The time taken to form each hole is 1 second which is much quicker than trying to drill in the CSK form.

Not sure, please give us a ring on 01489 577786 and we will be happy to guide you. There may well be a part you are having manufactured that with a little bit of thought will suit one of these CNC punching techniques enabling us to save you time and money in production.

Sheet metal production in 2017 from V and F Sheet Metal

Thursday, May 4th, 2017

Sheet metal production in 2017 from V and F Sheet Metal covers a wide range of materials and designs. It can simple be mild steel right angle brackets used to support storage shelves. Laser cut aluminium electronics chassis front panels. Welded stainless steel oil tanks with a series of fabricated components. The designs that we are involved with are very diverse and the volumes can range from just a few samples right up to many thousands in a batch of components.

Trumpf 7036 CNC bendingSheet metal angle brackets

CNC bending is a great production method when it comes to folding sheet metal work. It’s quick and easy to set up jobs so small batches can be manufactured at competitive prices. With a wide range of standard CNC press brake tooling over 4 of our machines we can be flexible when it comes to larger volume orders. We also have many special tools that we have made in house. This enables us to form different curved shapes to widen the range of sheet metal work we can offer you.

Trumpf 3000R CNC punch press in action producing circular sheet metal panels with cluster and curved banana tooling

CNC punching is a fast and versatile sheet metal production method. V and F Sheet Metal have been using CNC punch presses for many years to produce components for it’s customers in the UK. The mild steel discs shown here are typical of the sheet metal production that is produced every week of the year. Using standard CNC punch press tooling these parts were programmed quickly and the best fit from a standard sheet was produced to save money. The CAD/CAM software we use also allows us to experiment with designs and nest patterns when quoting for the parts. This enables us to pass those savings onto our customers at an early stage of manufacturing.

Brass sheet metal display housing project

Here is a nice example of the range of materials we use here at V and F Sheet Metal. These menu display panels have been manufactured from CZ108 brass sheet. The panels have been laser cut and CNC folded. The corner seams have had the plastic peeled away ready for TiG welding.

For more information on sheet metal work and how we go about producing it please follow the link.

So you can see that sheet metal production in 2017 covers a wide range of techniques and product designs. If you have a sheet metal design that needs producing in the UK please give us a call and we will be happy to review it and offer price options for it’s manufacture. Please call us on 01489 577786 or if you wish send you drawings to sales@vandf.co.uk and our engineering team will take a look for you.

Video of folding sheet metal housings with a CNC press brake

Tuesday, May 2nd, 2017

Folding sheet metal housings

Fast Tube by Casper

Take a look and see how easy it is for us to produce sheet metal housings. With standard CNC press brake tooling this job took under 10 minutes to CNC program and tool up. A couple of minutes to fold the first sheet metal housing and make a few corrections to the sizes and angles. Then we were off on a batch of 100 units. The ability to move from job to job in a short time makes this method of sheet metal work very flexible. Keeping set up times down to the minimum help reduce prices.

The Safan e-Brake CNC press brake has 100 tons of folding force and a 3M long bed. It works perfectly with our Trumpf 3030 fibre laser machine. The laser can cut up to 3M long and the press brake can fold up to 3M long.

If you have a sheet metal project that requires folded components we have the perfect machine for the job. Give us a call on 01489 577786 or send your drawings to sales@vandf.co.uk and we will be happy to help you.

Sheet metal manufacturing in 2017

Thursday, April 27th, 2017

Sheet metal manufacturing can come in so many different forms and I have chosen 3 to look at today. Things have moved on a lot from manual cutting, marking our, drilling and fly-press piercing and mechanical bending. With modern laser cutting, CNC punching and CNC bending sheet metal manufacturing in 2017 utilises high tech equipment, software and skilled staff.

For a full description of sheet metal manufacturing and all its production processes follow this link.

CNC punching machines

CNC punching machines have been around for many years in one form or another. Our single head Trumpf CNC punch presses enable us to manufacture some very complex sheet metal work. It goes without saying that designs require holes punched accurately and quickly to keep costs down, the Trumpf machines don’t disappoint. With fast controlled punching they also offer thread tapping, forming, bending and engraving. They can be thought of as a factory in one machine. And where they cannot cope on thicker gauges the laser machine is ready to take over.

Laser cutting zintec fit fitting gear trays on our Trumpf 3030 3KW fibre laser machine

Laser cutting is perfect for cutting through thick materials in ferrous and non-ferrous grades. But having a fibre laser cutter enables us to not only process thinner material extremly fast but copper and brass alloys up to 6mm thick.

Sheet metal folding facility

No look at sheet metal manufacturing would be complete without a look at our bending facilities. We are very proud to have a large range of CNC bending machines here in Fareham, Hampshire. We manufacture sheet metal components ranging from just a few mm across in materials as thin as 0.3mm right up to sheet metal sections 3M long. All sheet metal materials are processed through a wide range of standard CNC press brake tooling. Our 3 Trumpf 7036 and Safan e-Brake CNC press brakes share the same bend tooling for ease of production. This also allows us to move jobs between several machines when needed e.g. during busy times or if machines are being serviced.

This short blog post is only to whet your appetite, if you want to know more please explaore our website or give us a call and we will be happy to help you.

Laser cutting aluminium display panels with a fibre laser cutter

Monday, April 24th, 2017

Fast Tube by Casper

Here’s a short video showing our Trumpf 3030 fibre laser cutting machine cutting through 1.5mm 5251 aluminium alloy. Using nitrogen as the cutting assist gas a very clean quick cut is achieved with very little post operation de-burring required. These aluminium display panels are used as traffic calming signs. We manufacture a wide range of display panels in aluminium and stainless steel alloys ranging from 1 off special projects to mid ranges volumes, 50-100 per order. You can see that the main display panels are on the left hand side of the sheet. Other brackets and support components have been laser cut from the right hand side of the sheet. This enables us to use as little material as possible and keep costs down.

With all laser cutting projects and this one was no exception we have to start with Radan CAD/CAM software. We are lucky that this customer always gives us DXF files so we can examine all features and dimensions when producing the 3D models and laser cutting CNC programs.

These sheet metal aluminium display panels after laser cutting were folded up on one of our 7 CNC press brakes. They then had many PEM bushes and studs inserted to our customer’s design. After welding and cleaning up we organised powder coating so they were ready fro our customer to assemble.

If you have a project that needs aluminium display panels either laser cut or CNC punched please give us a call. We are always happy to help you with your design or produce quote options to get the best fit of manufacturing and price for your budget.

Sheet metal fabrications in the UK 2017

Thursday, April 20th, 2017

We have been busy manufacturing many sheet metal fabrications in 2017 from our base in Fareham, Hampshire. These sheet metal fabrications have a wide range of uses for many of our customers in the UK. This blog post features sheet metal fabrications used to build industrial light fittings, centrifugal blood testing equipment, heating chassis and oil pumping control housings.

Sheet metal blanks waiting to be folded up

A quick look at the range of components that were fabricated recently show that we are always laser cutting and CNC punching sheet metal work. Whether it’s stainless steel, aluminium alloys or any of the many types of steel and it’s treated derivatives we can cope with it.

Laser cutting sheet metal work

Laser cutting is a modern way of producing sheet metal fabrications. It produces highly accurate blanks in a range of materials and thicknesses without the need for expensive tooling. Linked and driven by Radan CAD/CAM software the component blanks that are laser cut are ready for bending without further processing.

Sheet metal work

Many sheet metal fabrications have folded features which we carry out on our CNC press brakes. We have a range of 7 CNC press brakes and the one featured here is a 3M long machine. This Safan e-Brake 3M CNC press brake has 100 tons of electrical force and was installed brand new in 2016. Sharing CNC bend tooling with our 3 Trumpf 7036 CNC press brakes enables us to be very flexible when it comes to work load production planning. These sheet metal fabrications were laser cut from 3mm zintec and have several 90 degree folded produced during the same bending cycles.

Spot welded sheet metal fabrications

Spot welding is a cheap and easy way to join 2 of more sheet metal components together. Using spot welding is particularly useful with ferrous materials and internal components that do not have a cosmetic appearance. If a good cosmetic appearance is required sometimes swivel spot welding tips can be used. If this still isn’t good enough then a post spot welding cleaning up is required. Either disc grinding or orbital sanding will remove all evidence of any spot welding if required.

If you want to know more about sheet metal work and how it’s made follow this link to our specific web page.

If you have sheet metal fabrications that you need to have manufactured please give us a call on 01489 577786. Alternatively you can send us a e-mail with your requirements and we will be happy to help you.

Simple CNC punching techniques to produce sheet metal work

Tuesday, April 18th, 2017

Simple CNC punching Techniques

Today I thought it would be useful to run over a couple of common CNC punching techniques that are often used here at V and F Sheet Metal. Knowing that none of us want to spend money where we don’t need to we always try our best to use existing tooling to produce new parts.

CNC punched diamond patterns

This ventilation pattern was created by turning a 4.5mm square tool at 45 degrees and repeating a simple column and row pattern. By using a range of different sized tools and pitches a wide range of open area performances can be achieved. This is particularly useful if the order volumes don’t justify bespoke cluster tooling or if you are still prototyping and need to try out different air flows for you design.

If you want to read more on CNC punching please follow the link to our CNC punching pages.

CNC punched dimples

A standoff foot is often needed to enable a sheet metal base tray to be lifted off the floor or wall. We have a range of dimple tools that enable us to achieve this for you. If a fixing hole or even keyhole slot are needed again this is easy to produce and we have many tooling options available for you.

CNC punched vents

When it comes to ventilation areas in sheet metal we have a vast range of options. For some it’s simple a CNC punched window which a fan can be screwed to with a separate grill. Others might want a series of ventilation louvres formed into the sheet, which can be achieved with CNC punch press tooling.

A popular alternative is to have an area punched with holes of slots to allow the correct amount of air flow. This can be with special cluster tooling if the volumes are high enough to justify the tooling costs. If the volumes are lower then using one of our many standard CNC punch tools is the cheapest and easiest solution. This pattern of vent slots was produced with one of our standard obround tools. For more information on standard punch press tooling take a look at our tooling pages.

If you want to discuss some of your sheet metal designs that might benefit from other simple CNC punching techniques please call us on 01489 577786 and we will be happy to help you.

CNC Punching aluminium nest of parts

Thursday, April 13th, 2017

CNC punching Aluminium components from the same sheet of metal

Fast Tube by Casper

We are often asked to manufacture sheet metal components from aluminium. If the components are from the same gauge and grade of aluminium they can be CNC punched out of the same sheet. This method of CNC programming helps to keep the parts together in production. It also helps at times with increasing the efficiency of material use and reduces the amount of programming that we need to manufacture a set of components.

The Trumpf 3000 CNC punching video shown here demonstrates clearly this technique with several parts being CNC punched together all for the same purchase order. This has all been organised before the job even enters production so the machine setters and operators don’t waste any valuable CNC punching time.

Programming for CNC aluminium components

Using Radan sheet metal CAD/CAM CNC programming software enables us to easily produce complex nests of parts on our Trumpf CNC punch presses. We can take programs from one machine and change them to another in seconds enabling a flexible approach to urgent jobs. You can see more about our CNC punch presses on our plant page. There are even times when a single part of set of parts may be moved from CNC punching to laser cutting or from laser cutting to CNC punching to suit production. This again is so easy with Radan CAD/CAM software and can be achieved with very little fuss.

We can and will employ all these techniques at times to speed up production and produce the best material yield for the cheapest part prices. If you have a range of aluminium parts or just a single part you need please don’t hesitate to contact us and we will be happy to calculate some part prices for you. As well as CNC punching aluminium we can laser cut your aluminium projects when it’s a cheaper option.

Please send you drawings to sales@vandf.co.uk or call us on 01486 577786 and we will be happy to chat through your design ideas.

Sheet Metal Projects in March 2017 from V and F Sheet Metal

Monday, April 10th, 2017

Sheet Metal Projects in March 2017 from V and F Sheet Metal

Laser cutting sheet metal work

Again, this month we have been busy laser cutting sheet metal projects. From small clips and angle brackets in 0.7mm stainless steel to 6mm thick mild steel and 5mm thick aluminium and everything in between. One particular project was interesting when we were asked to laser cut replica sword blanks to be used in film work. You just never know what’s coming next in sub-contact engineering.

New machine starts work straight away

We were really pleased to have another brand new Trumpf 7036 CNC press brake join the ranks of bending machines we use here in Fareham, Hampshire. There were so many bending sheet metal projects in March 2017 that the new machine helped with. Having already used two of the these machines before we had all the old CNC programs ready to go as well as the tooling. With the purchase of new tooling to expand our tooling library the machine was up and running the same day it was delivered.

Formed sheet metal chassis

These formed sheet metal chassis are just typical sheet metal work that we make for out UK based customers and were just another one of the sheet metal projects in March 2017 that were completed in the UK.

If you are looking for a new sheet metal worker then please take a look at our website and the services we can offer you. We are constantly investing in new technology to help improve the manufacturing processes we can offer you. From the latest CAD/CAM software (we have Radan 2017) to a brand new Trumpf 7036 CNC press brake (installed March 2017), these are exciting times.

If you have a set of drawings you want us to review for you please send them through to sales@vandf.co.uk. We are happy to offer alternative prices even if it’s just a costing exercise to check that your current supplier to competitive. Perhaps you want to have a chat to check out your designs are suitable for manufacturing. Our manufacturing team is here waiting to help you, call us on 01489 577786.

What is sheet metal fabrication and where can I buy it?

Thursday, April 6th, 2017

So what is sheet metal fabrication and where can I buy it?

Sheet metal fabrication is a term that covers a wide range of manufacturing activity. For us here at V and F Sheet Metal it can range from laser cutting and CNC punching ferrous and non-ferrous metals. Bending and forming the sheet metal blanks into a range of shapes and sizes. Inserting captive fasteners to aid assembly. Welding and cleaning up to powder coating, zinc plating and anodising to name but a few processes.

Laser cutting sheet metal work

Using laser cutting is a very flexible tool when it comes to producing sheet metal fabrication blanks. With a fibre laser we have the ability to not only cut traditional ferrous and non-ferrous metals but also yellow metals such as copper and brass alloys. We use a Trumpf 3030 3KW fibre laser for all our laser cutting needs and its a very versatile machine.

Bending sheet metal fabrications

Nearly all our sheet metal fabrications that are not simply flat will be folded on one of our 7 CNC press brakes. This range of machines allow us to efficiently bend components from just a few mm wide to 3000mm long. CNC press brakes are an effective way of folding sheet metal fabrications with standard tooling. They enable CNC programs to be written and then used again and again for future batches without wasting any time. Today’s CNC press brakes are fast, very accurate and easy to set up. They are suitable for prototypes, small batch work and higher volume sheet metal fabrication.

Spot welded sheet metal fabrications

Spot welding and conventional TiG and MiG welding techniques are used to produce sheet metal fabrications. We can weld steels, stainless alloys, brass, aluminium alloys, zintec and galvanised steel. Most commercial welding techniques can be used to produce your sheet metal fabrication work including stitch, tack and seam welding.

Sheet metal brackets

The manufacture of small sheet metal brackets is a speciality for us here at V and F Sheet Metal. With laser cutting and CNC punching feeding our wide range of CNC press brakes a day doesn’t go by when we are not making sheet metal brackets.

Formed sheet metal chassis

Although most sheet metal folding consists of tight bends produced in simple V bend tooling there are times when larger curves are needed. We have a range of in house tooling that can be used to produce your sheet metal fabrication profiles and these chassis nicely demonstrate this feature.

Sheet metal housings

Here’s a typical example of sheet metal fabrications manufactured by us in 2017. They are made from 1.2mm thick 1050a aluminium alloy, they have been CNC punched, had the sharp edges de-burred and folded on on of our Trumpf 7036 CNC press brakes. They are waiting to be tack welded together before going off to be powder coated.

CNC punching machines

CNC punching has been the main manufacturing technique we have used for producing sheet metal blanks for years now. With the ability to produce complex shapes in a range of metals and form interesting shapes such as dimples, ventilation louvres, threaded holes etc. they are the main stay of our sheet metal fabrication. Now that we also have a laser cutting machine they is virtually no shape we cannot produce.

Sheet metal folding facility

We are very proud to now have 3 Trumpf 7036 CNC press brakes, one was newly installed in March 2017. With our 4 other CNC press brakes this provides a wide range of processing ability and capacity to cope with small and large batch of sheet metal fabrication folding.

Sheet metal blanks waiting to be folded up

Just another day at V and F Sheet Metal, a range of fabrication sizes and volumes waiting to be folded up. We have a team of people who CNC program parts for laser cutting, CNC punching and CNC bending. We also have to keep production moving with the correct materials, gasses and customer data. You can be sure that we keep a close eye on all work going through our factory to see where we can improve processes and suggest ideas to our customers to save time and money.

Welding sheet metal

What is sheet metal fabrication? Well this has to be it. A mild steel fabrication that has been CNC punched, de-burred and folded up on a CNC press brake. The curved end caps have been rolled up and then all the joints and been seem welded together. The final fabrication was then clean us using a range of hand tools to produce a smooth outer surface.

This blog post is only a quick survey of the techniques used in manufacturing sheet metal fabrications. For a more in depth study why not read our “What is sheet metal work and how is it made?” pages.

Where can I buy laser cut sheet metal work to my designs

Monday, April 3rd, 2017

Where can I buy laser cut sheet metal work to my designs?

Laser cutting sheet metal work CNC program nest

We offer the complete laser cutting service from 3D modelling, CAD/CAM program development, laser cutting and down stream production processes. Using Radan 2017 sheet metal CAD/CAM software we are able to take your 3D data in the form of STEP or SAT files. 2D drawings can also be acceptable of PDF files and we will calculate the correct developed blank sizes for you. Using advanced nesting algorithms we can experiment with different nesting patterns to produce the most parts from any given sheet. This technique helps to reduce costs at the quoting stage and speeds up production cutting times.

Laser cutting 3mm thick galvanised mild steel sheet on our Trumpf 3030 fibre laser

Here’s our Trumpf 3030 3KW fibre laser in action cutting 3mm thick galvanised mild steel with nitrogen gas. On this occasion we are only using part of a sheet for a small batch of work. We can laser cut up to 3M long with the largest sheet that can be laser cut being 3M x 1.5M in size.

Laser cut 5mm thick aluminium sheet metal project

Here we have a recent laser cutting project that was produced using 5mm thick 5251 aluminium alloy. The nest was produced in seconds and worked perfectly to produce the parts needed by our customer. It doesn’t matter what the shape of the part we will get the best fit from the sheet saving you money.

So where can I buy laser cut sheet metal work, V and F Sheet Metal. If you send us your drawings we will calculate a range of prices for you and any options you wish for material types and batch sizes. Call us on 01489 577786 for more information or send your data to sales@vandf.co.uk.

Sheet metal bending using a Trumpf 7036 CNC press brake

Thursday, March 30th, 2017

Sheet metal bending using a Trumpf 7036 CNC press brake

Bending stainless steel brackets

Bending mild steel brackets

CNC bending sheet metal tabs

Well it’s hard to think that a quarter of 2017 has gone past already. With time to look back I have picked out 3 sheet metal parts to show the versatility of our Trumpf 7036 CNC press brakes. All three parts were manufactured in batches around 100 to 200. They were all folded using standard tooling that we hold on the shelf and were all programmed within minutes of hitting the shop floor.

With the recent investment of a third brand new machine we now have the perfect facility for folding small sheet metal brackets, angles gear trays, boxes etc. right here in Fareham, Hampshire. Sheet metal components up to 1M long are ideal for these machines and their fast acting electric drives produce very quick production cycle times. Add to that a simple programming and machine setting system making them idea for small batch volume work and prototyping as well as higher volume sub-contract sheet metal work.

Whether your projects need sheet metal work containing such items as aluminium trays, stainless steel clamps, mild steel brackets or copper earth tags we can fold them up and maintain the highest tolerance and work quality at a very competitive price.

We are always keen to look at new sheet metal bending projects and hope to keep our sheet metal factory busy throughout the rest on 2017. If you want more information on this service or have a look at your specific project please call us on 01489 577786 and our engineering team will be happy to help you.

New Trumpf 7036 brings extra bending capacity at V and F Sheet Metal

Tuesday, March 28th, 2017

Ready to join the gang

Our new Trumpf 7036 is now ready to bring extra bending capacity at V and F Sheet Metal. Working alongside our other two Trumpf 7036 CNC bending machines we think we may have the most on any single site in the UK. Always looking to invest in our services we are really proud to have another high tech bending machine working for our customers. If you are ever in Hampshire please feel free to contact us and call in to see the machines in action producing sheet metal work.

New machine starts work straight away

The extra bending capacity at V and F Sheet Metal makes an impact straight away by getting down to work. Folding hundreds of lighting reflectors with multiple bends the 7036 is soon earning its keep. With common tooling across the range of machines and access to a huge database of existing CNC programs this machine will immediately be very productive.

Now all 3 Trumpf 7036 CNC press brakes are working toegther

Not to be left out all 3 machines are busy

If extra bending capacity is what you are looking for in your sheet metal working company then give V and F Sheet Metal a call. With 7 CNC press brakes from 600mm long to 3000mm long we can handle most sheet metal bending project and your rush orders. We are waiting to take you call on 01489 577786 or take a look at your drawings if you send them to sales@vandf.co.uk

Brand new sheet metal bending facility in Fareham Hampshire

Monday, March 20th, 2017

We are expanding our sheet metal bending facilities here at V and F Sheet Metal with a brand new Trumpf 7036 CNC press brake

Almost there now

The new CNC bending machine is almost there and ready to take its place in our sheet metal bending facility.

At last in it’s new home

We have managed to move a couple of smaller CNC bending machines around so that our new Trumpf 7036 can sit with our other two 7036s making a very powerful bending cell. One of the smaller machines now sits next to our Trumpf 3030 fibre laser machine. This enables us to use it as a back up machine when the laser operator is watching a long running job. We are always trying to get the best of the machines we have and work in the smartest way we can. This helps us to keep prices down and reduce order lead times.

Trumpf 7036 soon up and working

With so much of our sheet metal manufacturing being under 1M long the Trumpf 7036 CNC press brake is perfect. It’s ability to tackle the simplest single bend angle bracket right up to complex chassis work and multi-bend curved shapes makes it ideal for a busy sub-contract sheet metal work shop.

If you have a sheet metal component or set of parts that you need to get prices on please give us a call. We are always happy to help you out with free advice and suggestions to help save you money in manufacturing. Call us on 01489 57786 or e-mail sales@vandf.co.uk

For more information on our sheet metal bending facility take a look at BENDING UNDER 1M LONG and BENDING OVER 1M LONG

Getting ready for our new Trumpf 7036 CNC press brake

Monday, March 13th, 2017

Getting ready for a new CNC press brake at V and F Sheet Metal

Getting ready for our new 7036 CNC press brake

We are really pleased to be able to announce a further investment here at V and F Sheet Metal. We have a third new Trumpf 7036 CNC press brake about to be delivered. This machine will increase our total CNC bending facility to 7 machines ranging from 60mm up to to 3000mm long.

Here’s our new press brake

Our new Trumpf 7036 CNC press brake has come all the way from Austria and we can’t wait to get it off the lorry and into our factory.

Should fit, I did measure it!

Being so compact there is no chance that the new machine won’t fit. The machine was unloaded and positioned ready for commissioning within 1.5 hours, good work.

The machine was simply wired up, connected to our company computer network, set up and calibrated within the same day. Along with brand new tooling to expand our existing tooling library the machine was producing components on the same day, brilliant service from Trumpf, thanks.

If you want more details on this new CNC press brake please read our Trumpf 7036 web page.

Where is the best place to get sheet metal work in the UK

Monday, February 27th, 2017

Where is the best place to get sheet metal work in the UK?

We believe V and F Sheet Metal are a good place to start your search for a supportive flexible sheet metal working company based in Hampshire UK.

CNC punching sheet metal work

When you are selecting a sheet metal working company to partner you with your manufacturing needs you need a company who is prepared to listen to you and offer a range of ideas, manufacturing services and competitive prices. We have the ability to manufacture a wide range of sheet metal work in house using a comprehensive range of modern CNC productions techniques. Techniques ranging from CNC laser cutting, CNC punching and CNC bending to welding processes and many ancillary manufacturing processes allowing us to cope with the most demanding sheet metal work. When you are looking for sheet metal work in the UK you want a company that speaks your language when it comes to talking through design ideas and possible ways to help you save time and money, we are here to help.

Laser cutting zintec fit fitting gear trays on our Trumpf 3030 3KW fibre laser machine

Having the ability to provide CNC laser cut and CNC punched sheet metal work in the UK allows V and F Sheet Metal to give our customers a definite advantage when manufacturing in the UK. Whether you are only looking for a few laser cut stainless steel plates, some bent aluminium angles or a more complex welded fabricated enclosure we have the skills and equipment to help you. With connections to a wide range of treatment and finishing companies we can offer the complete project manufacturing service. Whether it’s a special one off project, regular batches of sheet metal work or larger volume projects we are here to support your needs.

Sheet metal work

Sheet metal working is an exciting and growing industry with many new developments which have lead to the increased quality of work being produced often at reduced prices and with ever shorter lead times. The ability to set up manufacturing machines in ever shorter times allows us to offer smaller batch sizes at the prices of larger productions runs of years gone by. This has enabled many of our customers to reduce stock holding requirements and still maintain their product lead times.

So in conclusion if you are looking for sheet metal work in the UK then please give us a call on 01489 577786 or if you prefer send us your 3D design ideas or 2D drawings to sales@vandf.co.uk and our engineering team will be happy to help you out and produce competitive prices for you.

Where can I purchase sheet metal work in the UK

Thursday, February 23rd, 2017

If you are looking for a place where you can purchase sheet metal work in the UK then you should contact V and F Sheet Metal.

Based in Fareham right on the M27 in Hampshire we are ideally placed to service local companies through Hampshire with their sheet metal working needs. With connection to next day UK delivery we can be your local sheet metal worker wherever you are based in the UK.

Sheet metal work

From simple one off projects and new design prototypes right up to high volume production we are ready to help you with your sheet metal work right here in the UK. The vast majority of the work we manufacture for our customers is repeating batches of many 10’s to many 100’s and we have just the right equipment to efficiently support them.

Sheet metal work in Hampshire

Where can I purchase CNC folded sheet metal work in the UK?

Having 6 CNC press brakes we are well placed to support you with folded sheet metal work up to 3M long. From the smallest angle clips and brackets right up to simple structure channels and angles we have the tooling and machines to help you produce your sheet metal designs. We have 2 Trumpf 7036 CNC press brakes which are idea for sheet metal work up to 1M long. They are so efficient at producing angles, boxes, covers and complex enclosures that we have another one on order and it will be installed during March 2017.

CNC punching sheet metal work

Where can I purchase CNC punched sheet metal work in the UK?

With both a Trumpf 200 and Trumpf 3000 CNC punch presses we are able to offer you an excellent service when it comes to CNC punching sheet metal work. We have a large library of standard and special CNC punching tools to help you with whatever design you want manufacturing.

Laser cutting 3mm thick galvanised mild steel sheet on our Trumpf 3030 fibre laser

Where can I purchase sheet metal laser cutting in the UK?

We have a Trumpf 3030 3KW fibre laser cutting machine and can use it to cut a vast array of sheet metal. Laser cutting mild steel, stainless steel and zinc coated steels is no problem for us. We can also laser cut aluminium alloys and being a fibre laser we can also laser cut brass and copper sheet.

Basically if you want to have sheet metal work produced in the UK we would be pleased to help you. Either give us a call on 01489 577786 or send our engineering team your drawings to sales@vandf.co.uk and we will produce some estimates for you.

Design ideas for cnc punching sheet metal work with Trumpf punch presses

Tuesday, February 21st, 2017

If you are looking for design ideas for CNC punching sheet metal parts then here are some useful tips for you.

Nibbling with a CNC punch press

If you are looking for a particular shape to be produced by CNC punching it may not always be a standard shape we would have a tool for. By using a series of standard CNC punch press tools we can create a more complex or non standard shape. These ventilation slots are a great example of combining 2 shapes together to produce a the desired effect without the need for new special tooling. We have used a standard rectangle and standard obround slot to produce the correct shape for this customers sheet metal box.

Tapped threads using a CNC punch press

If you need to secure two components together you will probably want to use a screw. Your options could simple include a nut in assembly or we could press in a sheet metal insert such as a Hank bush to create a fixed thread point. We can also tap a thread directly into the sheet metal. This technique is nicely demonstrated here using our Trumpf 3000 CNC punch press. The thread has been formed straight into the sheet and is ready to use without any further production operations.

CNC punching with banana tooling

Producing curved shapes in easy when laser cutting but needs a little more thought when using a CNC punch press. With the correct tooling curved shapes can be successfully produced. They may be large circular cut-outs, curved component outer profiles or curved slots such as these. This pattern of slots are used for a ventilation area with a small fan and was punched using curved banana tooling.

CNC punched mild steel

And here’s the complete component in its CNC punched nest. These are just a few of the design ideas which make CNC punching such a flexible technique when it comes to manufacturing sheet metal work in the UK. If you want to investigate further the standard CNC tooling we have available please take a look at our tooling pages. All these design features are supported by Radan CAD/CAM sheet metal software which we use across the board on our CNC punch press and laser cutting machines.

If you are looking for design ideas for CNC punching your sheet metal project please give V and F Sheet Metal a call. We often save our customers money by suggesting alternative ideas using standard tooling that we already have on the shelf.

CNC programming punch presses for punching sheet metal work

Thursday, February 16th, 2017

CNC programming using Radan CAD/CAM sheet metal software

3D models of sheet metal housings and covers

Most of the sheet metal work that we manufacture starts off as a 3D model. This could be a simple single part, 2 parts like this aluminium housing and cover or a more complex assembly of parts. The 3D model may be created entirely by us here at V and F Sheet Metal or it might be one given to us by our customers as either a SAT or STEP file. Either way the 3D model helps us to establish an unfolded blank size and check that all parts together correctly. A 3D model can also be helpful for our customers who don’t have 3D software as we can give them images to check out their own design before we commit to manufacturing and sheet metal work.

CNC punching nest for aluminium housings and brackets

If you look carefully you can see the aluminium housing shown in the 3D model unfolded and tooled up in a punching nest created by CNC programming. The other parts shown with the housing blanks are part of the same set of parts and were punched form the same material so speeding up production and saving what would have been waste material within the sheet. Any combination of parts form the same sheet is possible when using a Trumpf CNC punch press with its flexible single punching head. Being able to rotate all tools through 360 degrees in the head enables us to be really flexible when producing either prototype or production runs of sheet metal work.

CNC punching sheet metal components with a Trumpf 3000R punch press

And finally here is an example of CNC programming being used to create a range of sheet metal parts all from the same sheet. The range of parts that can be produced using CNC programming techniques and CNC tooling is huge. From small earth tags, support brackets, electronics front panels, lighting reflectors, sheet metal housings up to long punched sections and most with standard CNC punch press tooling that we hold on the shelf.

If you have a sheet metal project and you are not sure whether it should be laser cut of CNC punched let us take a look for you. Using our CNC programming software we can produce test programs for both types of machines and feedback the best option for price before you finalise your design ideas.

Very fast CNC punching of sheet metal brackets from V and F Sheet Metal

Monday, February 13th, 2017

If you want to see just how fast a Trumpf CNC punch press can produce sheet metal blanks for brackets then take a look at this video.

Fast Tube by Casper

These galvanised mild steel brackets used in the building trade are typical of the work that we produce on our CNC punch presses. The ability to punch out parts and send them straight down the machine chute into a collecting bin is really helpful when processing large volumes of work. Running 2 of these machines in our factory here in Hampshire, UK enables us to be very flexible when it comes to your rush jobs or trying out new prototype parts. CNC punching of sheet metal brackets is not the only way we can manufacture these parts. We also have a Trumpf 3030 fibre laser machine to offer the complete sheet metal cutting package. The laser is perfect for thicker gauges and those awkward shapes that would need special tooling on a CNC punch press. If you get the chance please have a look at our gallery pages.
We have a large range of past sheet metal projects that should help to illustrate the range of services we can offer you.

When offering a sheet metal manufacturing service in the UK it’s all about flexibility. The ability to offer different solutions for your purchasing needs when you need them. Being able to quickly take your CAD data and come back with quotes and design options. Basically being able to speak your language, understand your needs and save you time and money.

If you want to learn more about the way we go about CNC programming these machines please follow this link.

If you have a live project that needs manufacturing, give us a go. Call us on 01489 577786 and our engineering team will be happy to take you call. If you already have drawings or 3D data then please send them to sales@vandf.co.uk and we will take a look for you.

Sheet metal angle brackets manufactured to your designs in the UK

Thursday, February 9th, 2017

Trumpf 7036 CNC bending metal angle brackets

Trumpf 7036 CNC bending angle brackets

Perhaps you have a need for sheet metal angle brackets in your products. V and F Sheet Metal are based in the UK and here to help you quickly get the angle brackets you want. Whether they are simple galvanised steel angle brackets like the one shown here or much more complex brackets we can help you. With a range of CNC punching and CNC bending machines to produce accurate sheet metal flat blanks our CNC bending machines are feed with just the parts they need. Small sheet metal angle brackets with tolerance of +/-0.2mm on bends is no problem for us. The Trumpf 7036 CNC press brake is a great machine for this type of sheet metal bracket manufacturing. Very fast and accurate and so simple to set up for small batches of components. With standard CNC bend tooling on the shelf the vast majority of work we produce for our customers needs no new tooling keeping the costs down for each part made.

Sheet metal angle brackets

The angle brackets show here were part of an order for 3 types of similar bracket and 6000 in total. The brackets were used in the building trade but we manufacture brackets for the electronics industry, lighting, heating equipment, professional audio equipment etc.

If you have a bracket design please send it to us by e-mail or give us a call and we will be happy to chat through your ideas. We can often suggest a few simple changes to save you money when it comes to production.

Give us a call.

CNC punching sheet metal work at V and F Sheet Metal

Monday, February 6th, 2017

CNC punching sheet metal work

CNC punching sheet metal work can cover such a wide range of components. From small spring clips, mild steel angle brackets and aluminium front panels right up to stainless steel doors and galvanised steel drip trays. The CNC punch presses are the machines to have when it comes to producing sub-contact sheet metal and Trumpf are the best of the lot. With the Trumpf single had design we can produce complex shapes and designs very easily with our standard CNC punch tooling. Most parts are produced without any extra tooling costs for you.

These sheet metal motor support brackets have been CNC programmed to fill the complete 2M x 1M sheet for maximum material efficiency. The Trumpf 200 machine shown here is supported by it’s bigger brother the Trumpf 3000 to offer a great sub-contract CNC punching sheet metal work service to companies right across the UK. When CNC punching isn’t quite right for a design, it’s no problem as we can also offer laser cutting with our Trumpf 3030 3KW fibre laser machine.

CNC punched brackets produced from 3mm zintec coated mild steel

Using radius tooling, standard round holes in multi-tool set ups and rectangular tools these components were each produces in seconds. V and F Sheet Metal have been CNC punching sheet metal work for over 30 years with a range of machines. These Trumpf machines are the best for accuracy and flexibility. Components can be transferred between our two CNC punch presses and our laser cutting machine. This flexibity is supported by our Radan CNC programming software and on larger volume can lead to the same parts being produce together on different machines to reduce manufacturing times.

The best way to really understand how we can help you is to simply send in a new project or even a sheet metal CNC punching projects you are currently purchasing and we will be happy to give you some pricing alternatives.

Laser cutting galvanised mild steel sheet metal plates

Thursday, February 2nd, 2017

Laser cutting galvanised mild steel is simple with a Trumpf 3030 fibre laser cutting machine

Laser cutting 3mm thick galvanised mild steel sheet on our Trumpf 3030 fibre laser

We have all the power we need to laser cut through galvanised mild steel. With the 3KW Trumpf 3030 fibre laser cutter we can produce parts faster than ever before. This service is a great bonus to you if you need a few parts in a hurry to prove a new design or perhaps you have an urgent requirement for sheet metal work to satisfy a short lead time order from your customer. Laser cutting galvanised mild steel either with compressed air or pure nitrogen gas is easy for us with our powerful Radan CAD/CAM CNC programming software.

This picture captures perfectly the explosive power of the laser cutter just as it’s piercing through 3mm thick galvanised mild steel. To see the speed of the laser cutter while cutting a range of materials and thicknesses take a look at our YouTube channel. Real life sheet metal projects laser cut in our factory in Fareham, Hampshire, UK.

Laser cut galvanised steel plates

These galvanised mild steel plates were laser cut, edge de-burred and then folded up to size to produce mounting plate for LED display sign housings which we also manufactured in aluminium for our customer.

To fully appreciate the advantages of laser cutting when designing your sheet metal products it’s best to give us a call and we will be happy to talk through your options. Our engineering team are available on 01489 577786 or send us your drawings to sales@vandf.co.uk

Welded fabrication aluminium sheet metal work UK

Monday, January 30th, 2017

Welded aluminium fabrications

Aluminium sheet metal work in Hampshire UK

If you are looking for a sheet metal working company that is capable of manufacturing your work in aluminium then please give us a call. We can laser cut and CNC punch your aluminium sheet metal work as well as CNC bend and weld fabrications using TiG and MiG welding techniques. Aluminium sheet metal work along with mild steel and stainless steel is a service we offer to a large range of companies in the UK. We manufacture a wide range of aluminium sheet metal work including electronics front panels, brackets, housings and chassis components.

These aluminium welded fabrications have been manufactured to be used with a ceiling system to support light fittings. After this image was taken we cleaned off the welds and powder coated each aluminium housing matt black to the customers specification. There were 200 aluminium housings that were produced for this specific customer order but we can manufacture much larger batches if that is what you need or just a few parts for small orders or prototypes.

If you have a specific project in mind and want us to help you with various design options or you simply want some alternative prices then please give us a call of 01489 577786 and our engineering team will be happy to help you. If you have drawings we will be happy to work with them and review your options, please send them to sales@vandf.co.uk

Where can I find a sheet metal working company in Hampshire

Thursday, January 26th, 2017

The ideal place to start if you are looking for a sheet metal working company in Hampshire is V and F Sheet Metal.

Laser cutting sheet metal work

When you are looking to have sheet metal work manufactured for your own designs you will often need many different machining processes to successfully complete a project. V and F Sheet Metal have a wide range of manufacturing processes all under one roof in Fareham, Hampshire. Sheet metal work can be cut from fresh sheet by guillotining but nowadays we mainly CNC punch or laser cut the sheet metal blanks direct from standard sheet. This process enables us to CNC program the parts accurately and quickly to your design taking into account the material thickness, material type and any design features in the final component.

Having both CNC punching and laser cutting under one roof enables us to quickly decide which production method is most suitable for your sheet metal work and get on and cut your parts without compromising on quality or delivery. Here I have shown a photo of our Trumpf 3030 fibre laser cutting machine cutting through brass sheet metal. The fibre laser can cut through the brass sheet still leaving the peelable plastic coating in place to help protect the work in production and during transit to your factory.

CNC bending from a sheet metal working company in Hampshire

CNC bending sheet metal work

If you are looking for a sheet metal working company in Hampshire who can handle sheet metal work up to 3M long then I’m sure we can help you. With the ability to laser cut and fold up to 3M long we can handle most peoples requirements.

Sheet metal work in Hampshire

Here’s a typical group of sheet metal work which we have produced in our factory in Fareham, Hampshire. These parts have been laser cut, edge de-burred, they have been CNC folded up and have sheet metal inserts pressed in place.

What do I need to do next to gain an advantage?

So, if you are looking for a sheet metal working company in Hampshire the first place you should be looking at is V and F Sheet Metal. Please give us a call on 01489 577786 to speak with our engineering team or e-mail us on sales@vandf.co.uk and we will be happy to take a look at your drawings and produce a range of price options and comments on your designs.

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