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    • History – How did we get here?
    • FAQ – Sheet Metal Work
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    • What is sheet metal work
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  • Plant List
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    • Cleaning Equipment
    • Edwards Pearson PR3
    • Fly Presses and press work
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    • Laser Cutting Sheet Metal Work
    • Power Press and press work
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    • Safan Guillotine and Cutting
    • Sawing angle, tube and bar
    • Spot Welding sheet metal
    • Stud Welding Sheet Metal
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    • P4W Production Software
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    • Bend Table – Small Joggles
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    • Sheet Metal Punching Rules
    • Sheet Metal Thickness
    • Gauge Conversion Table
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CNC bending and foldingcnc punchengineeringEngineering and Sheet Metal Newslaser cuttingsheet metalSheet metal dataSheet metal fabricationsSheet metal facilitiesTrumpf manufacturing equipmentUncategorizedWelding

Custom sheet metal panels manufactured in the UK

Wednesday, March 2nd, 2022

Laser cut mild steel panels

Laser cut mild steel panels

Custom sheet metal panels can come in many different shapes and sizes. The panels can be very simple such as the rectangular panels shown here. They can also be very complex with many different cut outs, edge profiles, studs, bushes, paint colours, silk screening etc.

We make custom sheet metal panels for a wide range of industries. They may well include electronics front and rear aluminium panels. Mild steel heating control panels. Rear connector panels for audio speaker and amplifier interfaces. We also make custom sheet metal panels for a wide range of industries where there are special projects such as lighting. Often lighting is ordered that will be a standard design but needs to fit into a ceiling with holes left from an older fitting. Customer sheet metal panels are then used to take up the difference as a cheaper option than manufacturing custom light fittings.

Custom sheet metal panels

CNC punched pre-painted mild steel sheet metal panels

As you can see from these photos panels can be produced by either Laser cutting or CNC punching. Which method we use will depend on the complexity of the panel required, the material type and the thickness. Having both laser cutting and CNC punching facilities in house allow us the flexibility to apply the right manufacturing process to your panel design.

The only way to be sure that your custom sheet metal panel is right for production is to simply send over your drawings and let us take a look. We will quickly be able to produce price options. We will be able to help you refine your design where needed to make it right for manufacturing. Thereby saving you money and reducing problems in assembly.

If you want to see even more examples of custom sheet metal panels please take a look at our Pinterest Boards.

Laser cutting sheet metal work in November 2021

Tuesday, November 30th, 2021

Laser cutting sheet metal

Laser cutting sheet metal

During November 2021 we have been busy laser cutting sheet metal. Some components are simply laser cut and that’s it. Our customers may only need a flat part such as a front panel for a rack mounted electronics chassis. They may only need a flat part because they are going to machine cut outs for special projects or perhaps they have the ability to fold up part in their own workshop. Most of the time we use the laser to cut blanks that will go on and be folded. Sometimes welded and then treated or finished in some way.

Laser cutting sheet metal produces very little edge burr and is very efficient when it comes to material yield. Laser cut parts are accurate. Complex internal and external shapes are easily produced with no need for special tooling.

The example shown here is our Trumpf 3030 in full production mode. I managed to catch the sparks flying from the initial laser hole piercing. Most of the laser cutting is clean as far less exciting! Some lines of parts have tipped where they lie between the slats on the bed of the machine. They have been programmed to have a small uncut tag. This little piece of material keeps the part held in the sheet and stops it flipping up. A simple twist once the parts are cut and it’s free from the sheet.

Need a quote for laser cutting sheet metal? Send us your drawings and we will be happy to help.

Sheet metal laser cutting near me in Hampshire UK

Wednesday, November 10th, 2021

Sheet metal laser cutting near me

Sheet metal laser cutting near me

Sheet metal laser cutting near me, well if you are based in Hampshire then we are near you. Not a problem if you are further afield as we can ship over night. We also have vans running around the south coast, we may even be delivering to companies near you already. We tend to specialise on laser cutting thinner gauges. Up to 6mm think for mild steel an stainless steel. 3mm for aluminium alloys. We can also CNC punch in house which offers a great option to laser cutting. It also enables us to offer hybrid parts. Perhaps laser cut complex shapes and then CNC punch ventilation louvres of formed dimples.

Where parts are thicker than perhaps we feel comfortable processing in house we can connect with other laser cutters for you. This way we can offer a range of parts placing them with the best manufacturer to suit your needs.

For hundreds of examples of sheet metal laser cutting, take a look at our Pinterest Boards.

Already know what you want to have laser cut? Perfect, we will take your drawings and work out cut sizes. How many we can laser cut from a given sheet of metal and of course most importantly. Your price options. Give us a call and we are ready to help.

Laser cutting custom mild steel panels in the UK

Monday, September 27th, 2021

Laser cut mild steel panels

Laser cut mild steel panels

Laser cutting custom designed panels is something we do every day. From helping customers with their designs, producing prototypes and production volumes we are here to help. These particular panels were laser cut from thin gauge mild steel sheet. Using pure nitrogen with our Trumpf fibre laser allows for fast and accurate blank cutting.

You can see from the images here that when laser cutting custom panels it’s easy to fill a full sheet of metal. Once a single panel has been programmed, which is a matter of a few minutes, the whole sheet can be filled with the part. The exact position and orientation of each panel is automatically calculated by the Radan laser cutting software.

Laser cutting custom mild steel panels

Laser cut mild steel panels

Panels such as these can be produced without the need for post laser cutting edge de-burring. These particular panels were powder coated and then ready for shipping.

Laser cutting custom panels along with CNC punching is the main way we produce sheet metal blanks. Feeding these custom blanks into our CNC press brakes enables us to produce a wide range of sub-contract parts.

For a wide range of laser cut panels designs why not view our Pinterest Boards.

For more details on the services we can offer and a specific price for your custom panels please contact us on 01489 577786 for a chat. Our engineering team will be happy to help you. If you want to send CAD files then no problem. Please send DFXG, DXG, STEP, SAT or PDF files to sales@vandf.co.uk and we will do the rest.

Custom sheet metal work near me using CNC production techniques

Tuesday, August 24th, 2021

Laser cutting mild steel brackets

Laser cutting mild steel brackets

You have designed a new component and you need it manufacturing. You want it made from sheet metal but are not sure which processes to select. Should it be laser cut, should it be CNC punched and how do you know what sort of folding will be needed? No problem, at V and F Sheet Metal we cover all the custom sheet metal work techniques. We can select the right production method to fit your custom design. The right method for your order volume and the materials you might be interested in.

Whether its thick gauges of steel or thin spring stainless. Copper sheet, light fitting reflector materials or brushed stainless steel we have the right CNC machines to cope. With custom sheet metal work it’s all about picking the right production technique to suit your design. Lots of complex shapes, connector cut outs or a detailed outer profile and we will probably go for laser cutting. A large number of simple shape holes such are circles or rectangles and its likely to be CNC punching.

custom sheet metal work

cnc punching circular discs

Thicker materials tend to be laser cut. Custom sheet metal work needing forms such as ventilation louvres, pressed dimples, plunges sheet with tapped threads and you are definitely requiring CNC punch presses. Luckily we have both areas covered in house.

When it comes to folding custom sheet metal work we have a range of machines. We can fold sheet metal profiles up to 3M long and right down to just a few mm across. CNC press brake tooling investment over many years enables us to produce the vast majority of folded sheet metal work without the need for new tooling.

Bending sheet metal work

Bending sheet metal work

What should I do now?

For more custom sheet metal work examples please take a look at our Pinterest Boards for design ideas.

The most important thing for you to know is that whatever custom sheet metal work project you design you have a partner in V and F who can support you. Simply send us your drawings, 3D models, sketches and we will be happy to produce a range of quotes for you.

Bespoke sheet metal components manufacturers in the UK

Wednesday, August 18th, 2021

Bespoke sheet metal components

Bespoke sheet metal components

Bespoke sheet metal components manufacturers

V and F Sheet Metal having been producing bespoke sheet metal components since the 1980s. Now using a wide range on CNC manufacturing equipment. Laser cutting with a Trumpf 3KW fibre laser, perfect for very fast cutting of thin gauge ferrous and non-ferrous materials. It can also laser cut much thicker materials when needed.

CNC punching with 2 Trumpf punch presses. A wide range of standard and special tools collected over the years help to reduce tooling costs on new projects. Fast production of holes in standard sheet metal materials along with formed dimples, plunges, tapped thread features, electrical knock outs, you name it we can probably make it on these CNC punch presses.

All blanks are taken to our CNC press brakes when folding is needed. From small machines up to our 3M Safan e-Brake CNC press brake. Common CNC press brake tooling across the range adds flexibility when it comes to production and sampling bespoke sheet metal components.

For a much wider view of custom sheet metal components manufactured in the UK why not take a look at our Pinterest pages.

Using the latest CAD/CAM software to read 2D and 3D drawing we can quickly produce prices for your bespoke parts and the volumes that you need.

Precision sheet metal brackets manufactured in the UK to your designs

Thursday, July 8th, 2021

Precision sheet metal brackets

Precision sheet metal brackets

When you are looking for a manufacturer of precision sheet metal brackets several factors come into play. Not just the manufacturing ability to physically make the brackets although this is clearly important. You may need support throughout the whole process. That support could take the form of design assistance. It could be multiple drops from a larger batch / kanban. It might be treatment and finishes for the complete one stop shop. If we can help you we will.

As far as the production of precision sheet metal brackets is concerned we have all the right equipment. Whether it’s laser cutting mild steel sheet metal as shown in the photo here. CNC punching aluminium with a wide range on standard CNC punch press tooling. Folding complex shapes using a range of CNC press brakes. Again, with a large selection of bend tooling to produce most parts without the need for special tooling. All aimed at keeping the cost down on new sheet metal projects.

If you want precision sheet metal brackets another important factory is communication. When you are selecting a new sub-contract sheet metal worker you need to be sure than can read your drawings. We have the ability to open DXF, DWG, STEP and SAT CAD files. Obviously we can also read PDF files if you prefer that format. Sketches and samples can also be used as a starting point for manufacturing.

Ask us for a quote today and we will be happy to help you.

Custom sheet metal workers manufacturing in the UK

Thursday, April 8th, 2021

Custom sheet metal work

Custom sheet metal work

Custom sheet metal work can encompass so many different products. From the smallest clip just a few mm across to folded sections up to 3M long. As we deal with approximately 75 different customers every month custom sheet metal really does include many different parts. We would normally say that thinner gauges best suit us when we are manufacturing sheet metal components. Traditionally we have worked up to 3mm thick sheet in ferrous and non-ferrous materials. With a laser cutter we can go thicker than that and work up to 6mm on occasions. It really depends on the size of the component and the tolerances required by the customer.

So, let’s take a look at these custom sheet metal projects in more detail. The only thing these parts have in common is that they were all being manufactured in April 2021. In fact I saw them all on the same day as I walked around our factory. I never tire of seeing sheet metal components being manufactured no matter what the batch size of design. It’s always a good starting point for a sheet metal blog post.

Custom sheet metal work

Custom sheet metal work

We have here parts that have both been created by laser cutting and CNC punching. Both services are offered in house and supported by Trumpf service engineers and Radan CAD/CAM software. If a customer had no particular preference for laser cutting or CNC punching we will select the best method to suit the custom part.

It may be that the custom sheet metal part really suits laser cutting, perhaps it has a complex outer profile or a unique cut out shape. New tooling isn’t always practical if there are only small volumes. In that case the way to go is certainly laser cutting. The thickness of the part may also decide which way to go. When parts have added features such as formed dimples, tapped threads or ventilation louvres then it’s obviously going to be CNC punching. We will often produce a quote both ways to see which comes out the cheapest. The advantage for you is that we can take the best path to cheap parts without compromising the quality of the parts.

Custom sheet metal work

Custom sheet metal work

For examples of other customer sheet metal work produced by us over the years take a look at our Pinterest Boards.

The parts I have chosen to illustrate here just happen to be made from mild steel, galvanised steel and stainless steel. They could just as well have been brass, copper or aluminium. They have all been folded up on one of our Trumpf 7036 CNC press brakes. Having a number of CNC press brakes to call upon enables us to be flexible when it comes to dealing with urgent jobs.

So when I say custom sheet metal work cab be varied I really mean every part is different. That’s the challenge of sub-contract sheet metal work. Every customer has their own ideas and we are here to support them where we can. If you have a custom sheet metal job and need some advice on manufacturing or price options for different volumes, give us a call. Better still, if you have drawings e-mail us at sales@vandf.co.uk and our team will be happy to help you.

Laser cutting galvanised steel sheet metal components

Thursday, March 18th, 2021

We are often laser cutting galvanised steel components for our UK customers. With our Trumpf 3030 fibre laser cutting machine it’s no problem cutting galvanised steel. Cutting from 0.5mm to 4mm thick is easy with pure nitrogen for a clean edge finish. The layout (nest) of the components being laser cut is automatically produced using Radan CAD/CAM software. The best fit of parts to any sheet size and the quickest laser cutting path are all taken care of by the software.

laser cutting galvanised steel

laser cutting galvanised steel

As a sub-contract sheet metal working company we are often cutting a wide range of materials including laser cutting galvanised steel. With a fibre laser cutting machine yellow metals such as copper and brass can also be cut. This enables us to offer a more comprehensive service to our customers. Brass display housings, brass light fitting parts, copper electrical connector panels being typical examples. Galvanised steel and Zintec are both forms of mild steel that are often requested for sheet metal designs.

There is virtually no edge deburring needed after laser cutting galvanised steel. If the parts are smaller such as those shown in the photo then they may be tagged into the parent sheet. This is simply a technique to prevent them tipping up during laser cutting and stopping the laser head. This small tag sometimes needs deburring off. On larger components, say over 150mm square, tagging is not normally needed further reducing post laser operations.

Off cuts of material (remnants) can be saved from production orders and used up of subsequent orders. This obviously keeps down the cost of components and is an easy for of recycling. All scrap, the middle of holes and sheet edges are collected and recycled back through the mills. Nothing is wasted.

Want to see more examples of sheet metal laser cutting, take a look at our Pinterest Boards.

Have a sheet metal job that you need producing? We will be happy to take a look and produce some price options for you. Send us your drawings to sales@vandf.co.uk and we will do the rest.

Sheet metal bracket design ideas to help you save you money

Tuesday, February 23rd, 2021

Sheet metal bracket design

Sheet metal bracket design

Sheet metal bracket design ideas can be many and varied. From using different materials and surface treatments to material thicknesses and profiles. The brackets shown here were manufactured from mild steel (zinc plated) and mill finish aluminium. They could just as easily have been produced from galvanised steel or stainless steel. Like all sheet metal manufacturing we have the flexibility to produce a wide range of part designs without the need for specific tooling.

Sheet metal brackets designed with inserted threads are ideal for saving time in assembly. Whether its bushes, stand-offs or studs we have huge stocks of parts and all the tooling needed to insert them. CNC bending brackets is easy when you have decades of experience and the right tooling for the job.

Sheet metal bracket design

Sheet metal bracket design

Laser cutting and CNC punching both perfectly suit the manufacture of sheet metal bracket blanks. Using Radan CAD/CAM software to develop reliable 3D models, developed blanks and complete tooled nests we are able to turn your ideas into reality.

A great place to review an in depth study of the stages we might go through in CNC programming sheet metal brackets can be seen at http://www.vandf.co.uk/software/sheet-metal-fabricated-bracket/

For many more examples of sheet metal bracket designs you can always take a look at our Pinterest Boards.

If you already have a bracket design ready for quoting / manufacture please send us a drawing and our team will be happy to take a look for you.

Laser cutting sheet metal fabrications in Hampshire UK 2021

Thursday, February 11th, 2021

laser cutting sheet metal fabrications

laser cutting sheet metal fabrications

I’ve just been taking a look around our sheet metal fabrication factory again today and spotted these stainless steel plates. Laser cutting sheet metal fabrications is something we do very well on light gauge sheet metal. These stainless steel plates are on the upper end of the material thickness we normally laser cut. 6mm 304 stainless steel laser cuts brilliantly with pure nitrogen as the assist gas. Often parts like these would not need to be de-burred in any way after cutting. The finish from laser cutting is often good enough straight from the machine for the finished part. In this case the parts are being used to construct a roof hinge mechanism for a campervan. All the edges needed to be de-burred well to eliminate the chances of the customers cutting their fingers.

Laser cutting stainless steel

Laser cutting stainless steel

The batch of stainless steel parts were cut from 2M x 1M sheets and off cuts from previous orders. The ability to easily tune CNC programs to use up any remnants we have in stock saves money and reduces material scrap. We can either reprogram the parts using our Radan CAD/CAM software in the design office or by the machine setter on the Trumpf laser cutter.

The complexity of a part profile (within limits) is no problem when laser cutting sheet metal fabrications. If you can draw it we can laser cut it. Simple send us a drawing and we will be happy to try out the part, produce a quote with your price options and any other operations you might need. Please send your drawings to sales@vandf.co.uk and we will do the rest for you.

Sheet metal laser cutting and cnc punching program nests

Thursday, January 14th, 2021

Sheet Metal Laser cutting program nest

Laser cutting program nest

When it comes to creating sheet metal laser cutting and CNC punching program nests there’s only one choice for us. Radan have been supporting the sheet metal industry for decades and we have over 20 years’ experience using their software. Supporting us with 3D modelling, 2D drafting and CAD/CAM translations they are the go to people in the sheet metal industry.

We use the software to produce our own 3D models when our customers cannot supply a STEP file. We can also turn 3D data into production drawings to aid bending and welding. But the real strength is the CAM side where we use the software to drive our CNC laser cutting and CNC punching machines.

CNC punching program nest

CNC punching program nest

Once individual parts have been developed as flat profiles with the correct bend allowances we move onto nesting. The images here are typical of sheet metal laser cutting and punching nests. It’s easy for us to use the software to automatically fit parts to the sheet. If we have off cuts it’s also not a problem. As you can see in the red image various parts can be nested together if needed.

For more examples of sheet metal laser cutting and CNC punching projects please take a look at our Pinterest Boards.

This ease of nesting is great when it comes to produce a price for a job. We can play around with different options and sheet sizes to get the most efficient program and hence the best price for our customers. Ask us for a quote and we will be happy to help. Do you need some engineering advice? We can guide you on material selection and design details.

Please give us a call or send your drawings to sales@vandf.co.uk and we will get working for you.

CNC bending sheet metal work in the UK during 2020

Tuesday, July 28th, 2020

Brackets manufactured in the UK

Brackets manufactured in the UK

It’s time to have another quick look at recent sheet metal projects. This time it’s sheet metal brackets. Using various CNC bending techniques some very complex parts can be manufactured. I love that fact that nearly every bracket we produce is different to the next but all using standard tooling. Whether it’s on one of our smaller Trumpf 7036 CNC press brakes or our larger 3M Safan e-brake the tooling’s the same. The process is the same and so is the end result, accurately folded sheet metal work.

The repeatability from part to part and from batch to batch is what makes these machines so useful in the workshop. We can produce a sample today and come back in a year’s time with the same CNC program and tooling and run production without any changes. Before CNC bending machines (press brakes) every set up was a long winded process and nowhere near as accurate as todays processes.

cnc bending sheet metal work

sub-contract sheet metal work

We take full advantage of the ability to treat a small batch like a big batch when it comes to costing. With very short set up times along with easy setting of a laser machine it has enabled us to try out samples and fine tune sizes before running a production batch. It’s a great help when materials come in say in their bottom or top tolerance for gauge. Simply run a couple of parts from the corner of a sheet and bend them up to check all is well before pressing ahead with the full production batch.

2020 has been a strange year for everyone. We hope now to push ahead again with supporting our customers, dealing with panic orders if they help our customers to gain new business and as ever the standard production runs when people need them.

If you have a sheet metal bracket that needs CNC bending simply send us a drawing and we will be happy to quote for production. Have an idea and stuck on the detail, give us a call and our team will help you out.

Brackets manufactured in the UK direct to your own designs

Wednesday, July 22nd, 2020

Brackets manufactured in the UK

Brackets manufactured in the UK

If you are looking for brackets manufactured in the UK then we are definitely here to help you. With over 30 years’ experience in manufacturing we can help you with your new projects. Hundreds of CNC punching and CNC bending tools enables us to produce the vast majority of products without the need for new tooling. Having seen and manufactured so many projects in the past help us to see any pitfalls in a complex design, point them out early on and save you money.

Whether you are thinking of having brackets manufactured in stainless steel, mild steel or aluminium we are here to help. We also manufacture brackets from brass, copper, galv., Zintec and spring stainless steel. You name it and we make it.

Brackets manufactured in the UK

Brackets manufactured in the UK

With a wide range of CNC punching, laser cutting and CNC bending facilities all in house samples and development can be quickly supported. 3D images from our Radan CAD/CAM system can be used to help discussions when it comes to reviewing design options.

All you have to do now is send us a drawing in either 2D or 3D format. Need to have a chat, that’s OK with us we are passionate about sheet metal and would love to hear from you and discuss your ideas.

Folded stainless steel sheet metal housings manufactured in the UK

Thursday, July 16th, 2020

Folded stainless steel sheet metal housings manufactured in the UK

CNC bending stainless steel housings

Folded stainless steel sheet metal housings, some of the options available to you.

When you are designing sheet metal housings it’s always worth thinking about the manufacturing processes in advance. Whether the housing is made from a single piece of metal or many sub-parts joined together time spent early on will save money in the long run.

We may be looking at laser cutting v CNC punching to produce the housing blanks. Depending on the thickness of the material required and the complexity of the design one way or the other will seem the best route to take. Some feature may also immediately suggest a certain blank production method, for example if the housing has formed dimples or plunged and tapped threads then CNC punching will be the best manufacturing method. If however the housing has a company logo cut into it or a series of curved profiles laser cutting may be the more efficient method of production. We will always look at your design and select the most appropriate method and keep you in the loop at the quoting stage.

Stainless steel housings

Stainless steel housings

There are similar considerations to be made when it comes to folding sheet metal housings. Not only the physical size and tonnage required to fold the angles but the complexity of the design and the ease with which the folds can be produced. This certainly needs experience, we have had many a good design sent to us to find that’s it’s impossible to fold from 1 piece of metal. A quick call or e-mail at an early stage of development will save time in the long run especially if we are using off the shelf tooling.

These folded stainless steel sheet metal housings have been developed in conjunction with the customer to enable the most efficient method of production. The more parts that have to be assembled together more thought has to be given to alignment and tolerance build up. This is where a useful piece of software such as our 3D Radan CAD/CAM software comes in handy.

Stainless steel housings

Stainless steel housings

Like so much in sheet metal work it can look easy until you come to translating your designs to physical components. We are always here to help you with your ideas and point you in the right direction when it comes to tooling and material selection.

For more examples of recent sheet metal projects why not take a look at our Pinterest boards.

We are always happy to receive your drawings to review.

Latest sheet metal projects manufactured in the UK

Wednesday, March 4th, 2020

Latest sheet metal projects manufactured in the UK direct to your designs

Mild steel support brackets

Mild steel support brackets

Whether you want just a few simple flat sheet metal plates or a very complex welded fabrication we will be able to help you. Special one off sheet metal projects or monthly repeating batches of work we don’t mind. With over 30 years of manufacturing experience in the UK, contact us with your ideas. Laser cutting, CNC punching, CNC bending and a host of other sheet metal manufacturing processes.

If you have a full set of dimensioned drawings and CAD files that’s great. If you only have a sketchy idea of what you want we can still work with you to get your desired outcome. We are always happy to help you and advise the best design options to suit the right manufacturing techniques, materials types, gauge thickness and cosmetic or protective finishes.

Aluminium angle brackets

Aluminium angle brackets

These sheet metal projects show a range of manufacturing techniques. From laser cutting, CNC punching, CNC bending and formed press work. The Zintec angle brackets have also had zinc plated bushes inserted. Batches of 50, 250 and 1000 for these parts.

Sheet metal projects

Sheet metal angle brackets

There are plenty of other examples of sheet metal projects manufactured in the UK over the last few years. Take a look at our Pinterest boards.

The sheet metal projects shown here are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the range of production we get involved with. You really need to explore our website to see all the weird and wonderful projects we get involved with for our UK customers.

Send us your details and drawings in 2D or 3D formats. and leave the rest to us. We are happy to comment on any design issues you may be having, provide you with quote options and lead times.

Stainless steel sheet metal housings manufactured in the UK

Monday, November 25th, 2019

Stainless steel sheet metal housings

Laser cut blanks nest

Stainless steel sheet metal housings such as these are typical of the work we can produce on our Trumpf 3030 fibre laser cutter. With a range of circular holes, slots, cut-outs and a complex outer profile. Housings like this can be CNC punched but with more difficulty and with the need for special tooling. Whereas with laser cutting, there is no need for tooling and virtually any shape can be cut. The parts are easy to CNC program and that also enables us to make quick changes to CNC programs when there are design changes. Filling the metal sheet with components is also easy with the ability to automatically turn parts to get the best fit possible. More parts per sheet equals cheaper part prices for you.

Laser cutting stainless steel in detail

Laser cutting stainless steel in detail

This photo perfectly shows just how easy it is to produce complex profiles with a laser cutter. The stop start points for the laser cut. The profile path all are automatically selected by the Radan CAD/CAM software. At any point we can step in and make changes where we see fit. The quality of the cut is also very important on components such as these. Trying to de-burr around these profiles would be difficult and time consuming. So being able to produce a profile in stainless steel with pure nitrogen is a bonus in production time and final part quality.

Finished laser cut housing blanks

Finished laser cut housing blanks

Stainless steel sheet metal housings, brackets, trays, panels are all easily produced. For more examples of recent laser cut stainless steel projects please take a look at our gallery pages.

It’s not difficult to program parts straight from your drawings. We can quickly use this data to experiment with the best material usage and cutting times to produce competitive quotes. Try us with your next sheet metal production order. Simple e-mail your drawings to sales@vandf.co.uk or call us on 01489 577786 and we will be happy to discuss your options.

Laser cutting thin gauge sheet metal brackets in the UK

Monday, November 4th, 2019

Laser cutting thin gauge sheet metal

Laser cutting in progress.

Using a Trumpf 3030 fibre laser for laser cutting thin gauge sheet metal is absolutely perfect. Being a fibre laser source the machine is extremely fast when cutting sheet metal below 3mm. Easy and cheap to run. Easy to CNC program and ideal for sub-contract sheet metal manufacturing where you never know what you will be asked to make next.

Parts removed for inspection

Parts removed for inspection

When laser cutting thin gauge sheet metal brackets the production team have some control over the parts they produce. At the start of a new batch the laser cutting machine can be stopped and parts can be removed. They can be inspected visually to check that the laser cut is clean. They can also be measured to ensure they are to drawing. In both cases adjustments can be made at the machine to influence the finished parts. This can be adjustments to the gas flow rate, feed rate of the machine, power of the laser beam and focus position. We can also adjust the cutting offset at the machine so component profiles and hole sizes can be tuned to achieve the drawing tolerances required. All this without having to talk with the CNC programmer saves time and enables the production staff to make their own decisions in real time.

Full sheet of laser cut brackets

Full sheet of laser cut brackets

Using our Radan CAD/CAM software enables us to produce very efficient nest layouts. Once a blank has been programmed it’s very simple to fill a standard or off cut sheet with as many parts as possible. Not only does this save money on material when quoting for new projects but it also enables us to reduce waste by using up off cuts from previous projects. Looking at the image here and the magnified image you can see just how fine laser cutting thin gauge sheet metal can be.

Laser cut brackets in detail

Laser cut brackets in detail

Parts such as these brackets are long enough to simply leave on the bed of the machine. No corner tags are needed. No time consuming breaking out of parts from the sheet nest and no edge de-burring. We simply pick the parts from the sheet and then lift the scarp skeleton off the bed. All this can happen while the laser machine is cutting the next sheet so that production is not interrupted.

Laser cut scrap nests

Laser cut scrap nests

All the scrap sheet metal is collected together and separated into different grades. Stainless steel, aluminium, mild steel along with Zintec and galvanised steel, copper and brass. That way we manage to recycle 100% of the scrap metal we produce. Another advantage of laser cutting is that all the scrap sheet is dry and easy to handle.

If you have a project that requires sheet metal brackets please give us a call. We will be happy to help you out and produce price options to suit your order volumes.

Laser cutting stainless steel sheet metal in the UK

Wednesday, September 11th, 2019

Laser cutting stainless steel nests

Laser cutting stainless steel nests

Laser cutting stainless steel sheet metal whether it’s coated or plain is no problem when you have a Trumpf 3030 fibre laser machine. Plain stainless steel laser cuts beautifully with a clean edge and very little burring. Thin gauges can simply be cut with compressed air and thicker gauges with pure nitrogen. When laser cutting stainless steel with a protective peelable plastic film a slightly different technique is needed. The laser cutter is programmed to mark out the profile to cut at a low power to fuse the plastic to the top surface of the stainless steel. This happens at speed and is automatically programmed at the machine if needed. The profile is then cut again fully using pure nitrogen to cut out the parts with the plastic film in place. This process enables the laser to cut the parts out without forming a gas bubble under the plastic film.

Laser cutting stainless steel panels

Laser cutting stainless steel panels

Any grade of stainless steel can be laser cut although our customers seem tend to favour 316 for top quality parts needing the best corrosion resistance. 304 is the most popular grade giving a good balance between performance and cost with 430 being the cheapest.

As far as gauges are concerned we have been laser cutting stainless steel form 0.3mm thick to 6mm thick. Our Trumpf 3030 fibre laser is capable of cutting much thicker than this but it’s not required for our customer base.

These images show rather nicely the advantages of laser cutting a range of parts from the same sheet of metal. The parts were all used to build an assembly as part of a display stand. With all the parts being from the same material and thickness our Radan CNC programming software could easily find the best fit for all the parts saving money on material.

Laser cutting stainless steel

Laser cutting stainless steel

So what do you do next?

Well if you have a sheet metal project and you want it laser cut we will be happy to produce some prices for you. Or perhaps you need some help with a design or selecting the right materials, again we can advise you. With over 30 years of experience in sheet metal work we have a solution for all your design problems.

Call us on 01489 577786 if you want to chat through your ideas.

Send us your drawing data to sales@vandf.co.uk if you like and we will take a look for you.

If you want to see past laser cutting projects our Pinterest Boards are well worth a view.

Laser cutting mild steel components using a Trumpf fibre laser cutter

Monday, August 5th, 2019

Laser cutting mild steel components is the perfect process for manufacturing batches of sheet metal work.

3D software image of a sheet metal bracket

3D Model of a mild steel bracket generated in Radan CAD/CAM sheet metal software

Nearly all our sheet metal work that has folds starts with a 3D model. It could be one supplied by our customers in a STEP / SAT or IGES format. This is great as it saves time not only when programming to manufacture the components order but also when initially preparing quotations. If our customer doesn’t have a 3D model or one that we can open then we will generate the 3D model ourselves. By using our Radan CAD/CAM software we can produce a 3D model and link it to the correct material databases to aid the calculation of cut sizes and tooling for laser cutting or CNC punching.

The process can go the other way with us creating a 3D model and providing our customers with images or DXF files if the need them.

laser cutting mild steel components

Image of a laser cutting nest of components showing efficient use of material

Once the 3D model has been created and unfolded the individual parts can be “nested” together to produce the best sheet utilisation possible. The Radan software calculates this with one click of a mouse and in seconds. We can then experiment with the orientation of the components on the sheet as well mixing several different parts together to reduce material wastage. That said, the vast majority of the time the software gets it right and cannot be beaten by human intervention.

As well as creating an efficient nest of parts the software also enables us to produce a CNC program which drives the laser cutter to produce the components with the shortest cutting path.

Laser cutting path simulation

Laser cutting path simulation generated within the Radan software

Along with the automated best path we can intervene to cut parts in a certain order or tag certain parts in place or allows others to fall through the machine bed and then collected by a conveyor belt system. This ability to tune the program to suit the component size, material and profile makes this software very powerful, we wouldn’t be without it. This is especially useful when laser cutting a range of different parts from the same sheet of metal. The laser machine operator can also take an active role when using off-cuts of materials on the shop floor. The operator can select a piece of material and then take parts from a programmed nest and make them fit the material without the need to involve the office. This speeds up the production of samples and trial components on the shop floor for new projects.

Trumpf fibre laser cutter pallet changer

Mild steel sheet on the pallet changer waiting to be laser cut

The components discussed here were laser cut from 2M x 1M sheets of mild steel 2mm thick. They were loaded onto the automatic pallet changer system as shown in the photograph. This system allows a sheet of parts to be laser cut while a sheet is waiting to be loaded. Once that sheet is finished it’s automatically switched over enabling the operator to remove parts while the next sheet is being laser cut. This simple system enables us to maintain a high laser cutting rate which saves time and cost prices.

If you look carefully you can see our Trumpf 200 and Trumpf 3000 CNC punch presses in the back ground of the photo. Acting together with our Trumpf 3030 fibre laser they make a great team and allow us to take on a wide variety of sheet metal work.

laser cutting in action

Laser cutting 2mm mild steel – sparks generated from piercing holes

So now we are at the point of laser cutting mild steel components. You can see a sheet full of cut components and the fibre laser machine right in the process of laser cutting through the 2mm mild steel sheet. The sparks are instantaneous and are normally associated with the point of piercing through the material. Once through the laser can cut a hole or edge profile very cleanly. These parts were cut with pure nitrogen gas producing a very clean edge. The final parts needed no further cleaning up before they were powder coated.

Finished laser cut nest

Laser cut nest of mild steel components waiting to be removed from the parent metal sheet

If you click on the photos here you will see in detail just how cleanly the components have been laser cut. Virtually no distortion, burnt edges and no burring. Processing materials as cleanly as this saves us a lot of time in post op finishing and improves the consistency of components throughout a batch. You can also see just how thin the laser cut line is, well under 0.5mm thick. You also see how well the parts have been nested together to reduce material waste.

Clean cut from a fibre laser cutter

Clean cut from a fibre laser cutter using pure nitrogen gas

Laser cutting mild steel components such as these really shows how easy it is to produce components with a smooth clean finish and simply get the best from a sheet of metal. This is important when working with 2mm mild steel but even more so when cutting expensive materials like aluminium, stainless steel, copper or brass. All materials that are easily processed with a fibre laser cutter.

Laser cutting scrap skeletons

Laser cutting scrap skeletons waiting to be recycled

Once all the laser cut components have been lifted away from the parent sheet the material that is left is called the skeleton. This residual sheet material can easily be lifted from the bed of the machine and folded up. The material is then kept with other off-cuts of the same grade and then recycled. All the waste sheet metal materials used by us to produce our customer orders is recycled, nothing is wasted.

Final laser cut mild steel components

Final laser cut mild steel components waiting to be folded

The final components are simply checked, stacked and then are ready for CNC bending. Components like these are easy for us to produce and are very much part of our everyday production plan.

If you have laser cutting mild steel components already drawn up please send us your drawings to sales@vandf.co.uk and we will be happy to produce a price for you and get you started.

For more specifics on laser cutting mild steel components or any other materials please read our web page “what is CNC laser cutting?“

Aluminium electronics chassis panels manufactured in the UK

Friday, June 7th, 2019

Aluminium electronics chassis panels

Aluminium electronics chassis

Aluminium electronics chassis panels CNC punched and CNC folded. Manufactured in house by our engineering team in the UK. You design it and we will make it. From the simplest flat panel with just a few holes. Right up to complex welded chassis assemblies for housings electronics components.

Having over 30 years experience in manufacturing sheet metal work for the UK electronics industry we are here to assist you. With many standard tools for CNC punching and CNC bending on the shelf and ready to go. Using the latest sheet metal CAD/CAM software (Radan 2019). We can effortlessly communicate with your design team and guide them to produce the best parts for manufacturing.

Aluminium electronics chassis panels from from connector plates right up to 3M long display panels. All produced in house and with powder coating, iridite NCP or anodising treatment where necessary through our network of long established suppliers.

Whether your designs need CNC punching or laser cutting or a combination we are here to help. We have experience in combining both manufacturing methods where needed to produce the perfect panel.

Simply send us your drawings to sales@vandf.co.uk and we will do the rest. Check your options, produce price options and manufacture without any fuss.

Laser cut decorative screens produced to your own designs

Thursday, May 30th, 2019

Laser cut decorative screens

Laser cut decorative screens

If you are looking for complex shapes cut from sheet metal then you have to think laser cutting. With the ability to laser cut around shapes without the need for tooling you can concentrate on your designs without the constriction of thinking of tooling.

Whether the shapes are internal windows or external profiles laser cutting is certainly the way to go. Decorative screens such as these shown here can only really be manufactured by laser cutting when there may only be small volumes. Luckily we have a Trumpf 3030 3KW fibre laser which is more than capable for jobs like this.

If you can draw it there’s a good chance we can laser cut it for you.

The ability to take our customer’s drawings and lay them out to get the best from any standard sheet of metal. To fine tune details to suit the manufacturing process and feedback problems before starting the manufacturing process.

Not sure if your design can be laser cut? Simply send us your designs (sales@vandf.co.uk) and we will run them through our software and send you back an image of the nest of parts for you to check.

Ask us today for a quote and we will be happy to help.

Laser cutting sheet metal work in Great Britain 2019

Thursday, May 16th, 2019

Metal work in Great Britain produced by laser cutting

Laser cutting sheet metal work in 2019

Laser cutting sheet metal work in 2019

Now this is a perfect example of getting the best out of a sheet of metal. Click on the red image of the 6 metal parts from the CNC program and you will so no waste material. Using the complete sheet wherever possible helps to minimise material waste and reduce components prices. We have been producing sheet metal work in Great Britain for over 30 years and using a laser cutter is just the latest manufacturing development.

Laser cutting sheet metal work in Great Britain 2019

Laser cutting sheet metal work in 2019

Laser cutting Zintec (a zinc coated mild steel) sheet metal material is ideal on our Trumpf laser cutter. The laser cutting process is very quick on a component like this. It has very few holes so the laser can cut around the straight outer and inner profiles very quickly.

Laser cutting sheet metal work in 2019

Laser cutting sheet metal work in 2019

With an automatic change over pallet the Trumpf fibre laser machine can be kept continually running. This is great when we have a large order or that panic job that comes along from time to time.

Whether we are looking at 0.7mm Zintec, 1.5mm mild steel, 2.5mm aluminium or 6mm stainless steel we can cope with it. Most components when laser cut have very little or no need to have edge de-burring. Not only does this obviously save money but time and energy as well.

So you have a laser cutting job and need a price? It’s easy, all you have to do is send us a drawing. We will happily work through the options you want, volumes, materials and then produce you a range of prices. You can send them to sales@vandf.co.uk or call us on 01486 577786 and have a chat through your ideas if you like.

Laser cutting stainless steel sheet metal UK

Monday, April 29th, 2019

laser cutting stainless steel sheet metal uk

laser cutting stainless steel sheet metal uk

All our sheet metal components that are either CNC punched or laser cut are programmed off-line. This basically means all the instructions needed for laser cutting stainless steel parts are ready for the machine operator when needed for cutting. A few simple alterations can be made at the laser machine but the part details and the part layout (nest) is set off-line. We use Radan CAD/CAM programming software to control this aspect of the manufacturing. The algorithms within the Radan software instantly find the best fit from any given sheet and the quickest path for the laser head to cut all the internal cut-outs and the outer profile.

laser cutting stainless steel sheet metal uk

laser cutting stainless steel sheet metal uk

When laser cutting stainless steel with a protective plastic coating we have to carry out a vapour laser cutting operation first. This is a quick process with the laser cutter running around the profiles of the holes and profile at low power fusing the plastic film to the stainless steel substrate. This then allows the laser to switch to full power and cut through the stainless steel without the nitrogen cutting assist gas blowing bubbles in the plastic.

laser cutting stainless steel sheet metal uk

laser cutting stainless steel sheet metal uk

Once the laser cutting program has been created. A single part checked out for size and edge quality. There is only the the batch to run and with a 3KW Trumpf fibre laser that is very quick. With an automatic pallet changer we can be laser cutting stainless steel parts while removing the previous nest of parts. This enables us to keep the machine running more of the time saving time and money.

You can now see how easy it is for us to laser cut stainless steel parts to suit our customers designs.

For more information on laser cutting take a look at this page.

Simple send us a drawing or two and we will be happy to take a look and produce you an estimate for supplying materials and manufacturing. Either a direct e-mail to sales@vandf.co.uk or use our contact form on the website.

Brackets manufactured in the UK to your designs

Tuesday, April 16th, 2019

Brackets manufactured in the UK

Brackets manufactured in the UK

Whether you are looking for a few special sheet metal brackets to complete a special installation or repeating batches of brackets for higher volume production we are here to help you. We have over many years produced thousands of different brackets for our customers in the UK. Using a wide range of ferrous and non-ferrous material ranging from 0.3mm right up to 10.0mm thick we can cover all your needs.

Brackets manufactured in the UK

Brackets manufactured in the UK

Using our CNC punch presses and fibre laser cutting machine to find the best production methods for producing the bracket blanks. Depending on the materials and the gauge as well as the details we will know which way to go and the most cost effective process to suit your needs.

Having a large library of standard CNC punch tooling helps us to keep your costs down, especially if you only have a small order. It’s the same with CNC bending. We have a wide range of CNC press brake tooling which will enable us to fold a wide range of shapes, angles, safe edges and bespoke forms.

For lots of past projects of brackets manufactured in the UK take a look at our Pinterest Board.

Brackets manufactured in the UK

Brackets manufactured in the UK

Our customers come back again and again for production but also for advice. Whether it’s manufacturing advice to solve a tricky design problem or perhaps advice when selecting the correct materials. Often a simple phone call is enough to save a lot of money when it comes to production. We are always happy to help and enjoy being part of our customers design team.

Give us a call and we will be happy to help. Alternatively if you wish send us your drawings to sales@vandf.co.uk and we will sort out a quote.

Manufacturer of sheet metal stainless steel brackets

Wednesday, April 10th, 2019

Manufacturer of small sheet metal stainless steel brackets produced in the UK

stainless steel brackets

stainless steel brackets

We have been manufacturing small stainless steel brackets for over 30 years. All the thousands of different types of brackets have been made to our customer’s designs. Whether it’s laser cutting or CNC punching we will produce sheet metal blanks to suit any shape or size that you need.

With 7 CNC press brakes ranging from 600mm right up to 3M long all sorts of brackets can be cater for. You only have to look at the vast range of past projects featured on our website to realise you have come to the right place for your sheet metal work. With a wide range of customers in Lighting, Heating, Audio and Electronics industries in the UK there’s not much we haven’t come across before.

stainless steel brackets

stainless steel brackets

So you have a sheet metal bracket that you are going to need in your next project. Simply send us your drawings or call us up on 01489 577786 and we will be happy to help you. It might be that we only have to take your drawing and produce a range of prices for you. It may be that you are almost there but need some advice to finish off your design. You may have a price target and need a little design advice to reduce costs, talk to our friendly engineering team for help.

Laser cut blanks produced from zintec coated mild steel material

Monday, March 18th, 2019

Zintec, a zinc coated mild steel sheet metal which is ideal for laser cutting.

Laser cut zintec brackets

Laser cut zintec brackets

Zintec laser cuts beautifully as it’s basically mild steel but without the oil film. Being dry there are less burn marks with our Trumpf 3030 fibre laser cutter.

Laser cut zintec brackets

Laser cut zintec brackets without the sheet skeleton

You can easily see how efficiently we can lay components on a given sheet of metal. Using Radan CAD/CAM software enables us to program each part and the full sheet away from the shop floor. These laser cutting nests are crated automatically with the software and rarely do we need to amend them. For lots of examples of past CNC programming projects why not take a look at our Pinterest Board.

Laser cut zintec coated mild steel bracket blanks

Laser cut bracket blanks

Zintec coated mild steel laser cut blanks ready to be folded up. Batches of just a few parts up to many thousands are perfect for laser cutting and CNC bending. To see more laser cut zintec coated mild steel components take a look at our Gallery Page.

So, if you have a sheet metal project and it’s being manufactured from Zintec we are the people to help you. Stocking 0.7mm, 0.9mm, 1.2mm, 1.5mm, 2.0mm, 2.5mm and 3.0mm often on the shelf lead times are kept to a minimum.

Feel free to send us your drawings to sales@vandf.co.uk or call us on 01489 577786 and we will be happy to help you. With over 30 years experience in sheet metal work our team have lots of good ideas to help you save money by simple changes to your designs.

Copper sheet metal work manufactured in the UK

Monday, February 11th, 2019

Copper sheet metal brackets

Copper sheet metal brackets

Copper sheet metal brackets

Copper sheet metal brackets

It’s not often I get to show off a copper sheet metal project. These brackets caught my eye for nothing more than their wonderful colour. In a work shop of mild steel, stainless steel and aluminium, copper sheet metal really does shine out. These simple copper brackets are used as electrical contactor brackets in electrical switch gear assemblies.

The copper brackets were laser cut from C101 copper sheet on our Trumpf 3030 fibre laser. It’s the perfect machine for processing copper sheet metal work. Combined with our Trumpf 7036 CNC press brakes for bending up the brackets they make the perfect sub-contract sheet metal manufacturing team.

We manufacture thousands of different sheet metal brackets for our customers in the UK, take a look at our Bracket and Angle gallery page or our Pinterest Board for inspiration for your next design project.

You may not currently have a requirement for copper brackets, it may be that you need brackets made form brass, stainless or galvanised steel. Whatever bracket you need in over 30 years experience we will have come across it before and can certainly help you out. Our team will be happy to help you with your design ideas, getting the best method for manufacturing and offer price options to suit your batch sizes. Call us on 01489 577786 or e-mail your drawings to sales@vandf.co.uk for more information.

CNC punching aluminium circular discs with banana tooling

Thursday, January 24th, 2019

CNC punching aluminium circular discs

CNC punching aluminium circular discs

When we receive a drawing for a sheet metal part that’s a circle you might think we automatically go for laser cutting. Well laser cutting is a great manufacturing process to use for cutting a wide range of profiles. It is the perfect solution for cutting circular discs but there is another option. By using a CNC punch press with special curved tooling circular discs can be produced very effectively. These curved tools are known as “banana” tools obviously due to their shape.

So why use a curved CNC punch press tool when a laser machine could do the job? Well the biggest advantage is that the curved tooling allows us to combine it with other tooled features not possible on a pure 2D laser machine. For example you may have a circular disc that also has some tapped thread or countersink holes that could be formed. These features are ideal for our Trumpf 3000 punch press enabling us to produce the part much quicker than laser cutting the disc and then having to use secondary operations for tapping the threads or drilling the countersink holes.

Circular aluminum discs

Circular aluminum disc

Banana tooling can also be useful with a CNC punch press if the material doesn’t suit laser cutting. For instance highly reflective lighting materials that are cut and folded to make light fitting reflectors cannot be cut on laser machines. Also, pre-painted materials are better suited to CNC punching as the laser cutting edge can burn the painted surface.

The main point to remember is that we have the ability to select the best solution to suit the sheet metal component design and material type. We can also use the machines in combination, perhaps by laser cutting a complex item and then transferring it to a CNC punch press to have threads tapped of a series of dimples of louvre forming

To see hos these banana tools work in action please take a look at our video here. You can see how effective the tooling is and ho quick the parts can be produced.


Fast Tube by Casper

As ever if you have a sheet metal design where it has a circular form or not we will be happy to take a look at it for you. Please send your drawings to sales@vandf.co.uk as we will work on some price options for you.

Bending laser cut sheet metal components in Great Britain

Thursday, January 17th, 2019

Sheet metal components can come is a wide range of shapes and sizes. From the simplest flat metal plate to complex intricate welded fabrications. We offer support to our customers’ right across the range with a host of sheet metal manufacturing services. Having control of these manufacturing processes in house enables us to tailor services to suit different designs and production volumes.

Flat laser cut aluminium components

Flat laser cut aluminium components

Here is an example of us producing an aluminium bracket. The component could have been CNC punched. We looked at the developed flat blank shape and decided that laser cutting would be better. With its shape and the blending corner radius features on the outer profile laser cutting was the best method to use.

Bent Aluminium components

Bent Aluminium components

Once the components were laser cut there was no need to deburr the edges as the cut was so clean. We often find that when laser cutting thin gauges with our fibre laser cutter the edge is acceptable to your customer without further edge finishing operations. We will also include small corner radii to help reduce the chances of people cutting their hands in subsequent assembly processes.

Bending sheet metal components on the Trumpf 7036

Bending sheet metal components on the Trumpf 7036

Setting up the Trumpf 7036 CNC press brake to fold a component like this is relatively easy. With a simple single top and bottom V tool the whole component can be folded up. Programming the machine allows the operator to control the length or each bend and its angle. The combination of upwards and downwards folds, varying lengths and bend angles enables complex components to be programmed in simple stages. Once a program has been written a single “first off” part is produced. If it’s not exactly to drawing a simple correction can be made on the program to an angle and it will be reflected across all the bends. After the part meets the drawing requirements the process can be repeated again and again until the batch is complete. Depending on the size of the batch of parts, the complexity and drawing tolerances we may stop and check random parts to ensure all is correct.


Fast Tube by Casper

If you are looking for more information on CNC bending take a look at our page, “What is CNC bending?”

Or possibly you would like to see hundreds of examples of CNC folded sheet metal components on our Pinterest Board to give you some ideas for your next new design.

If you have a new sheet metal project and you want us to take a look for you please feel free to give us a call or email sales@vandf.co.uk with your drawings. We will be happy to help with quotes and advice.

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