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    • FAQ – Sheet Metal Work
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  • Plant List
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    • Laser Cutting Sheet Metal Work
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CNC bending and foldingcnc punchengineeringEngineering and Sheet Metal Newslaser cuttingsheet metalSheet metal dataSheet metal fabricationsSheet metal facilitiesTrumpf manufacturing equipmentUncategorizedWelding

Manufacturing sheet metal work in the UK by V and F Sheet Metal

Thursday, April 21st, 2022

Manufacturing sheet metal

What is CNC bending?

Manufacturing sheet metal work is the main stay of V and F Sheet Metal. We have been sub-contract sheet metal workers since the 1980s. Providing a wide range for manufacturing services to UK companies for decades. We are especially prominent in the lighting, heating and audio sectors.

Manufacturing sheet metal components and assemblies from your own custom designs. Whether that’s 2D or 3D data we can handle it and turn it into products for you. With the ability to laser cut or CNC punch blanks in house we have total control of the manufacturing process. Connected with our CNC press brakes we can fine tune parts to suit bend tooling saving you time and money in production.

The images here show folding and spot welding. I could just as easily have shown laser cutting and welding or CNC punching and bush insertion. We have a wide range of auxiliary manufacturing processes all carried out in house to help support your design team. Along with a network of painters, platers and machine shops we can act as a one stop shop for your new sheet metal projects.

Spot welding Zintec sheet metal assembly

Spot welding Zintec sheet metal assembly

For a more detailed look at our plant please spend a few minutes and look at our website.

If you already have a product that needs manufacturing and you think sheet metal would be the solution please send us your drawings. If however you want to see some more examples of past projects our Pinterest Boards are stuffed full of ideas.

Southampton Hampshire Sheet Metal Work manufacturing fabrication

Wednesday, January 19th, 2022

CNC punching with cut blanks - Southampton Hampshire

CNC punching with cut blanks

V and F Sheet Metal have been manufacturing sheet metal fabrications in the Southampton Hampshire area for over 35 years. Using a range of CNC laser cutting, CNC punching and CNC bending plant. All supported with the latest sheet metal CAD/CAM software. We are here to support you with your sheet metal requirements. Perhaps you need some advice on a material grade. The correct inserts to b pressed in to save time in assembly. Whether to spot weld, TiG weld or screw and product together. Laser cutting or CNC punching with custom tooling. All these questions and more are often asked and we are happy to help. Having produced sub-contract sheet metal work for over 35 years we have come across most of the problems people have.

If you are looking at developing a new design and think it maybe CNC punched then take a look at our standard tooling library. Select a hole that we have a tool for and it will save you money. Of course we can always look at laser cutting as well for complex internal cut outs and external profiles.

If you want to review hundreds of past sheet metal projects a great place to start is our Pinterest Boards.

Send your drawings into sales@vandf.co.uk and let us do the rest.

Sheet metal manufacturing in Southampton Hampshire

Wednesday, November 3rd, 2021

CNC bending - Manufacturing in Southampton

CNC bending using modern press brakes

V and F Sheet Metal have been manufacturing in Southampton for over 35 years. A family firm who have invested over many years in CNC sheet metal manufacturing equipment. Sheet metal CAD/CAM software and tooling.

If you are based in the Southampton area and are looking for sheet metal work, give us a try. The images her shown us working on a wide range of projects. Folding aluminium channels on a small CNC press brake. Folding mild steel housings on our 3M long CNC press brake. TiG welding aluminium boxes. CNC punching zintec brackets and laser cutting stainless steel handles.

laser cutting in action

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

Whether you call is manufacturing, production, fabrication, engineering etc. It’s still the process of taking raw materials and transforming them. Manufacturing can be laser cutting complex shapes from mild steel. Perhaps to be used as the starting point (a blank) for a wall fixing bracket. It could be CNC punching aluminium strips that will be rolled and welded together to make rings. Again, manufacturing might be folding and then welding stainless steel pump housings for the pharmaceutical industry. They all take materials and process the in some way.

If you are looking for manufacturing in Southampton and surrounding areas whether it’s just a new part or many thousands we can help. We often work on batches of 25, 50 or many hundreds. Call offs and special projects can also be catered for. With a long history of working in partnership with other suppliers we can offer the complete manufacturing service.

Folding up of components

Folding up of components – Manufacturing in Southampton

Perhaps you have a manufacturing project that needs sheet metal work but more than just that. You might have machining requirements, for instance milling and turning. Maybe you need parts or assemblies to be painted, powder coated or silk screened. Treatments such as zinc plating or Iridite NCP dipping. We can manage the whole project to give you a finished manufactured solution.

TiG welding aluminium housings

TiG welding aluminium housings

Using the latest CAD/CAM manufacturing software we become part of your team. Taking your ideas, drawings and 3D models. We can clean up details and test out ideas ready for manufacturing before cutting any materials. If you wish we can feed back updated 3D models and 2D drawings or flat blanks to help your design function.

Trumpf 200 CNC punch press in action

Trumpf 200 CNC punch press producing zintec sheet metal blanks

Manufacturing in Southampton we are ideally placed to delivery same day from Dorset, Hampshire and Sussex. As well as Wiltshire and Surrey. Further afield is no problem with overnight parcel and pallet services all over the UK.

If you have a design project that needs sheet metal manufacturing please let us know. Our team are always happy to chat and help refine your designs. If you want some price options please e-mail your drawings and we will be happy to do some calculations for you. File formats that we are happy to work with include PDF, SAT, STEP, DXF and DWG.

Sheet metal product manufacturing to your designs in the UK

Tuesday, October 19th, 2021

Sheet metal brackets

Laser cut and CNC folded sheet metal brackets – Sheet Metal Products

Sheet metal products can take so many forms. We pride ourselves on turning our hand to most ideas our customers present of with. Sometimes it’s a fully detailed CAD model with dimensioned drawings. With these sheet metal products we just have to read them into our system and worry about the CAM. Whether it’s selecting the correct punch press tooling, laser gas and refining the cut size to suit available bend tooling.

If a sheet metal product is slightly less well formed, perhaps a design sketch or a sample which is being used as a starting point we can still help. We may create our own 3D software model to double check the fit of parts. Our document the product with a dimensioned drawing for both customer and supplier to use as a master document.

In either case we review the sheet metal product design to be sure it’s suitable for manufacturing. Where we can clean up designs to speed up production and save money we will be glad to help you.

Sheet metal product

CNC punched and CNC folded sheet metal brackets – Sheet Metal Products

If a customer has a sheet metal product that lends itself to a certain set of manufacturing processes then we will simply follow the design. If however the part for instance could be CNC punched or laser cut we will investigate bother processes to offer the most suitable and cost effective production method. Perhaps a sheet metal product has a curved shape. Should we roll the curve, form the curve with a custom tool or simulate the curve with a series of small bends created on a CNC press brake. We will offer options as best fits the design and customer’s expectations.

For hundreds of examples of past sheet metal product projects please take a look at our Pinterest Boards.

What’s next?

If you have a sheet metal product that needs manufacturing give us a call. If it’s just a few parts, many hundreds or thousands. We will take a look and see what process will best suit.

CNC punching sheet metal hinges in mild steel brackets

Wednesday, October 13th, 2021

CNC punching hinges

CNC punching hinges

CNC punch presses have been used to produce sheet metal blanks for many decades now. Punching in holes at speed is their strength. Circles, squares, rectangles as well as special shapes are meat and drink for CNC punch presses. They are also a great tool when it comes to producing forms in the third dimension. Whether it’s down forming dimples, extrusions with tapped threads or stamping letters, number of symbols they are at home. Up forming ventilation louvres, small folds, earth tags and hinges.

Taking a walk around our workshop I saw these sheet metal hinges being formed on our Trumpf 200 CNC punch press. They show perfectly the flexible nature of manufacturing sheet metal components with a CNC punch press.

CNC punched mild steel hinges

CNC punched mild steel hinges

Building in the male and female forms of the hinge to either side of a bracket is a neat design idea. It not only looks cleaner than welding / spot-welding but it’s a lot cheaper to produce.

Two tools are used to form the loop up and then form over I nth sheet. All the material around the hinge form is CNC punched out first and then in this case the complete set of parts were dropped down the machine’s part chute. This speeded up the removal of finished parts and removed the need to tag into the sheet.

Sheet metal hinges built into components

Sheet metal components with inbuilt hinges

With both our CNC punch presses and laser machine supported by Radan sheet metal CAD/CAM software we are able to pick the right method of manufacturing to suit your bespoke design.

To view other CNC punched projects it’s well worth having a look at gallery pages http://www.vandf.co.uk/gallery/

Alternatively we have hundreds of CNC punched projects on our Pinterest Boards.

Simply send us your drawings and we will be happy to produce quotes for your next project.

Aluminium plates manufactured from sheet metal by V and F Sheet Metal

Wednesday, August 4th, 2021

Aluminium plates made to measure

Aluminium plates made to measure

Aluminium plates can come in so many different shapes, sizes and thicknesses. From tiny delicate components to 6mm thick support plates. These aluminium plates have been CNC punched from 5mm 5251 aluminium alloy. They were CNC punched on our Trumpf 200 and sent straight down machine chute into a collecting bin. No edge de-burring was needed on these parts. The final operation not yet seen at this stage is a single fold. The fold was carried out using one of our Trumpf 7036 CNC press brakes.

The aluminium plates are used to support aluminium walk way decking systems.

Batch sizes vary as well as the plate sizes. We produce a range of standard plates from 100 to 2000 off. Special projects are also manufactured with a wide range of sizes and volumes.

With the simplest of drawing or sketch from you we can quote and manufacture your plate design. Our team are always happy to help you out with design help. The right material selection and a range of prices for different volumes is not a problem for us. Again, if you need to investigate different plate finishes such as anodising, NCP iridite treatment or powder coating we can include that in the quote. Through a network of tried and tested supplies we can offer an aluminium plate manufacturing one stop shop.

Drawing formats include DXF, DWG, STEP and SAT files. If you don’t have a drawing, that’s not a problem as we will produce one from a simple sketch.

For more examples of laser cut and CNC punched alumiunium plates you really need to visit our Pinterest Boards.

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.

CNC punching sheet metal in the UK produced in 2020

Tuesday, August 4th, 2020

Sheet metal manufacturing of ventilation grilles

Sheet metal manufacturing of ventilation grilles

CNC punching sheet metal in the UK produced in 2020

CNC punching can be used to produce such a wide range of sheet metal products. From the smallest aluminium tag, stainless steel mounting plates, mild steel chassis and copper heat sinks. From 0.4mm thick reflector aluminium right up to 6mnm thick aluminium for shelving. From 0.7mm stainless steel housings to 3mm stainless steel pump brackets. From 0.7mm zintec 19” chassis to 5mm light fitting flood light brackets.

We have been using CNC punch presses for over 25 years to produce metal work. There are occasions when materials maybe too thick to CNC. That’s not a problem as we can simply transfer those jobs to our Trumpf laser cutter.

CNC punched sheet metal work

CNC punched sheet metal work

With many hundreds of CNC punching tools in our extensive tool library we can tackle most work without the needs for any new tooling. This helps to keep the costs down on prototypes and speeds up the lead time.

We produce hundreds of different parts each week for a wide range of companies within the UK. Using our long experience and powerful CNC punching sheet metal software we can get the best from our Trump CNC punch presses and save you money where possible. For a wide range of CNC punched sheet metal work please take a look at our Pinterest Boards.

Give us a call or contact us at sales@vandf.co.uk with your drawings and we will be happy to work some quotes for you.

Manufacturing small sheet metal brackets in the UK

Friday, January 3rd, 2020

Manufacturing small sheet metal brackets in the UK

Manufacturing small sheet metal brackets in the UK

Manufacturing small sheet metal brackets in the UK using the latest CNC manufacturing techniques.

We have been manufacturing sheet metal components for well over 30 years. Servicing the needs of our customers, manufacturing brackets to their designs and in the volumes they need when they need them. These tiny stainless steel brackets for a electronics cable connector are typical of the small end of the work we make every day of the week. Using our 3 Trumpf 7036 CNC press brakes we can handle the trickiest of bending jobs with no fuss. Whether they are laser cut or CNC punched we have the team and plant in house to deal with your designs. With the ability to take your 3D files and adjust them to suit correct manufacturing tolerances we are always looking to save production time and money.

Click on the image to get an idea on just how small these sheet metal brackets really are.

For more images of past sheet metal bracket projects take a look at our gallery page.

Do you have small sheet metal brackets that are smaller than this? We like a challenge, give us a try. Send us your CAD data and our engineering team will be happy to take a look and produce some quotations for you.

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.

UK CNC punched sheet metal components – take a look

Monday, October 28th, 2019

If you are looking for a supplier of CNC punched sheet metal components in the UK you should talk with us.

We have been CNC punching sheet metal components using CNC punch presses for over 30 years. From simple small and large turret machines right through to powerful single head Trumpf punch presses. With constant investment in Radan sheet metal CAD/CAM software to support CNC punch and laser programming the most efficient cutting of sheet metal has been achieved over the years.

Having now used Trumpf CNC punch presses for 20 years we have a vast tool library. This standard range of tools can be accessed via our website to enable you to customise your designs without the need for new tooling costs.

The range of CNC punched sheet metal components that we have produced over the years is endless. From spring stainless steel fingers to specially treated aluminium lighting reflector materials. From mild steel rack mount chassis components to galvanised mild steel boxes. From stainless steel motor plates to aluminium angle brackets. From plastic labels to copper bus bar parts. That’s the advantage of a CNC punch press you are not limited on the materials and designs that you can work on.

We have lot’s of examples of CNC punched sheet metal components on our Pinterest Boards, please take a look for inspiration.

Having all this experience enables our engineering team to spot potential problems with your design at the quoting stage to save you time and money before production even starts. Often with a small modification to the part, design problems can be eliminated.

The best way to find out is to give us a call on 01489 577786 or send us a drawing or two to sales@vandf.co.uk and we can then take a look for you.

CNC punched sheet metal components

CNC punching brackets

CNC punched plastic coated steel

CNC punched plastic coated steel

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.

CNC punching galvanised mild steel sheet metal panels

Thursday, August 29th, 2019

cnc punching galvanised mild steel sheet metal panels

cnc punching galvanised mild steel sheet metal panels

Here we are again looking at CNC punching. This time it’s galvanised mild steel sheet metal panels. These relatively simple panels have been CNC punched out of 2M x 1M sheets of 0.9mm galvanised mild steel. With the programs using standard CNC punch press tooling there was no extra tooling cost for our customer. The job was set up in 15 minutes on the punch press with parts being ready for de-burring within 30 minutes.
If you look below you will see the nest in more details as programmed using our Radan 2019 software. Common line cutting and multiple orientations have been used to save time and money on materials.

cnc punching galvanised mild steel sheet metal panels

cnc punching galvanised mild steel sheet metal panels

Here’s a nice a example of the ability of a Trumpf CNC punch press to produce parts is multiple orientations on the same sheet. With a single head that rotates through 360 degrees all tools are free to be postioned in any angle required by the program. This allows us to produce the best fit on the sheet, saving money on materials and the amount of tool changes. Often it’s a collection of small advantages that add up to a cost saving when we are producing prices for work.

cnc punching galvanised mild steel sheet metal panels

cnc punching galvanised mild steel sheet metal panels

If we zoom right in we can see how the corner notches have been created using several standard rectangular tools, There is also a threaded hole produce on the CNC punch press. Being only a thin gauge we have pierced and plunged the hole first to form a thicker piece of material to enable the mils steel sheet metal panels to have stronger threads.

Have a sheet metal project that is going to need mild steel panels? Give us a call or send us your drawings and we will be happy to help you.

CNC punching sheet metal work UK during 2019

Thursday, August 15th, 2019

Trumpf 200 CNC punch

Trumpf 200 CNC punch

We have been CNC punching sheet metal work in the UK for over 25 years. From an initial investment in 10 station CNC punch presses we have built up to the single station Trumpf format machines. Using the latest Radan CAD/CAM sheet metal programming software we cover huge range of components. Most of our work is for UK companies and uses our standard off the shelf CNC punch press tooling.

Having produced countless 10s thousands of different sheet metal components over the years we have seen it all. Bringing together all that experience enables us to assist our customers with their designs, enabling them to use our standard CNC punch press tooling to save money on small batch work. Perhaps guiding customers with their choice of materials and gauges to ensure their design is based on commercially available materials.

CNC punching sheet metal work uk

CNC punched plastic coated steel

Where it is better to laser cut the parts rather than CNC punch we have that covered as well. Having the combination of CNC punching and laser cutting in house is ideal when quick samples are needed before looking at running higher volumes. We can even produce hybrid parts that maybe laser cut and then have features formed in our CNC punch presses such as dimples or ventilation louvres. For hundreds of examples of CNC punching sheet metal work UK take a look at our Pinterest Boards. We are always adding new examples of sheet metal projects and they are a good source of design ideas for new and when reviewing sheet metal design.

CNC punched heater grilles - CNC punching sheet metal work in the UK

CNC punched heater grilles

If you are looking for CNC punching sheet metal work UK then you really need to be talking to V and F Sheet Metal. With so much experience, tooling, programming ideas etc. we are here to help you. Contact us on 01489 577786 or if you prefer send us your drawings to sales@vandf.co.uk in DXF, DWG, STEP, SAT or IGES formats.

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?“

CNC punching in Hampshire Sheet Metal Work 2019

Monday, July 29th, 2019

Brackets in production - cnc punching in Hampshire

Brackets in production

Looking for a supplier of CNC punching in Hampshire, UK?

V and F Sheet Metal have been CNC punching sheet metal work for 30 years and have a vast range of experience. Whether it’s CNC punching 0.4mm reflector aluminium, 0.9mm zintec, 2.0mm stainless steel, 3.0mm mild steel or 5mm aluminium we are here to help you. You name the material and we have probably worked with it before. With a wide range of Trumpf CNC punch press tooling we can produce the majority of people’s designs without the need for new tooling.

Perhaps you only have a sample part you want to replicate from a previous design. We can take that part, 3D model it and create a dimensioned drawing if that helps you to fully understand your design. With price options for different volumes, material grades and sub-contract finishes we will be able to offer you something that suits your budget.

Using Radan 2019 CAD/CAM software we can quickly investigate the most efficient use of materials and the quickest cutting program to reduce tool changes and CNC punching time.

Take a look at our CNC punch press tooling tables to see what’s available to you when designing your nest sheet metal product. Most shapes and sizes of tooling are available from stock with no added costs to yourself. If however you want a shape that is not possible with standard CNC punch press tooling we can always look at bespoke tooling for you. Alternatively we can explore laser cutting if needed to solve that tricky design issue.

Alternatively, take a look at our Sheet Metal CNC Punching Pinterest Board for hundreds of examples of past sheet metal projects produced on our Trumpf CNC punch presses.

So if you want to purchase CNC punching in Hampshire ask the people who have been producing sheet metal work since the 1980s.

All we want to do is help you find the most efficient design and manufacturing method to suit you. Contact us with your ideas at 01489 577786 or simple e-mail us on sales@vandf.co.uk

CNC punching sheet metal in the UK during 2019

Monday, July 15th, 2019

Trumpf 200 CNC punch press in action

Trumpf 200 CNC punch press producing zintec sheet metal blanks

We have been CNC punching sheet metal in the UK for over 25 years. From an initial investment in 10 station CNC punch presses we have built up to the single station Trumpf format machines. Using the latest Radan CAD/CAM sheet metal programming software we cover huge range of components. Most of our work is for UK companies and uses our standard off the shelf CNC punch press tooling.

Having produced countless 10s thousands of different sheet metal components over the years we have seen it all. Bringing together all that experience enables us to assist our customers with their designs, enabling them to use our standard CNC punch press tooling to save money on small batch work. Perhaps guiding customers with their choice of materials and gauges to ensure their design is based on commercially available materials.

Sheet metal circular light gear trays - CNC punching sheet metal in the UK

Sheet metal circular light gear trays

Where it is better to laser cut the parts rather than CNC punch we have that covered as well. Having the combination of CNC punching and laser cutting in house is ideal when quick samples are needed before looking at running higher volumes. We can even produce hybrid parts that maybe laser cut and then have features formed in our CNC punch presses such as dimples or ventilation louvres.

For more examples of CNC punching in the UK take a look at our Pinterest boards.

CNC punched nest

CNC punched nest

If you are looking for CNC punching sheet metal in the UK then you really need to be talking to V and F Sheet Metal. With so much experience, tooling, programming ideas etc. we are here to help you. Contact us on 01489 577786 or if you prefer send us your drawings to sales@vandf.co.uk in DXF, DWG, STEP, SAT or IGES formats.

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.

Aluminium sheet metal workers manufacturing in the UK – 2019

Thursday, May 9th, 2019

Aluminium sheet metal workers manufacturing in the UK

Aluminium sheet metal workers in the UK

Aluminium sheet metal workers in the UK

Simple aluminium sheet metal frame starts out as a laser cut blank. Producing the parts by laser cutting gave us the opportunity to produce nice clean inner and outer edge profiles. The parts were cut on our Trumpf 3030 fibre laser machine using pure nitrogen to a clean edge cut. The laser cut blanks required virtually no edge de-burring.

Aluminium sheet metal workers in the UK

Aluminium sheet metal workers in the UK

Being a small part the aluminium sheet metal frames were perfect for bending on our Trumpf 7036 CNC press brakes. We make so many small sheet metal parts that we have 3 of these small productive machines. They can cope with work up to 1M long but are mainly in the work shop to produce all the smaller brackets, channels, trays etc.

We have common CNC press brake tooling across these small press brakes and our larger 3M Safan CNC press brake. This enables us to move work around in the work shop to suit our customers order requirements.

Aluminium sheet metal workers in the UK

Aluminium sheet metal workers in the UK

Trays like these demonstrate just how easy it is to manufacture sheet metal components with standard tooling. Powerful CAD/CAM tools and a wide range of CNC punching and bending tools makes it easy for us to accommodate your design ideas. Interested in talking to sheet metal workers based in the UK with over 30 years’ experience. Send us your drawings and we will be happy to produce quotes of chat through your designs. Please send your drawings to sales@vandf.co.uk or call us on 01489 577786.

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.

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.

Sheet metal production in Great Britain – contact V&F Sheet Metal

Thursday, December 13th, 2018

Sheet metal production of sub-contract engineering in Great Britain

If you are looking for a company to support you with the development and production of sheet metal work you need to talk to V and F Sheet Metal. With over 30 years of experience in sheet metal batch production we are ideally placed to support your latest project.

laser cutting sheet metal production

laser cutting sheet metal production

Laser cutting has become a standard method for the production of sheet metal components. It allows for quick and easy development of samples at the early stages of production. No tooling is required and complex shapes can be cut with ease. Once batch production is required laser cutting is ideal for getting the most from each sheet of metal. It’s also a great way to mix and match components from sheets for suites of part increasing sheet yield. Where health and safety is in mind then again a laser cut edge can be smooth and radius corners can be added to your design at no extra cost.

Trumpf 200 CNC punch press in action

Trumpf 200 CNC punch press producing zintec sheet metal blanks

CNC punching has been the back bone of sheet metal production for many years at V and F Sheet Metal. From early on we have used CNC punch presses to pierce holes and produce component profiles. We now use Trumpf machines for their superior quality, easy of tool setting and CNC programming.

Having a large library of CNC punch tooling built up over the last 20 years enables us to produce many customers parts with no new tooling costs. Working alongside the Trumpf laser cutting machine they provide the perfect team for our customers sheet metal production requirements.

Folding up of components

Folding up of components

Most of the components we manufacture for our customers are folded up in some way. This is where CNC press brakes come into action. We currently have 7 machines ranging from 600mm to 3000mm long. We are able to tackle jobs from the simplest 1 bend angle to the most complex folded assemblies. Again, as with CNC punching we have many years of press brake tooling on the shelf and the vast majority of jobs we produce never have the need for new tooling.

TiG welding aluminium housings

TiG welding aluminium housings

After the main production processes of CNC punching/laser cutting and the CNC bending we have a range of ancillary processes. From welding and spot welding we have press work, bush insertion rolling etc. Too many to list here but a quick look at our plant list will show you last we have most processes covered.

So what now ….

If we have interested you in our production abilities then why not contact us with your latest sheet metal production project. If you just want to chat through your ideas our engineering team will be happy to help by calling 01489 577786. If you already have a design then please email your drawings to sales@vandf.co.uk. We can read PDF, DXF, DWG, SAT and STEP files.

CNC punching aluminium sheet metal panels

Monday, December 10th, 2018

CNC punching aluminium sheet metal panels using our Trumpf 3000 machine

If you are looking for aluminium sheet metal panels and you want tapped holes, CNC punching can be an idea solution. By incorporating the speed of CNC punching and a tapping head in one machine a very price competitive part can be produced. Parts produced in this fashion have no swarf as we us flutless forming taps. This enables us to process the parts at speed and with a reduced risk of scratches.

CNC punching aluminium panels

CNC punching aluminium panels

The panels look white due to the protective film that is supplied with the aluminium sheet. This protective film can be left in place or removed if finishing or treatment processes such as anodising are required.

CNC punching aluminium sheet metal panels

CNC punching aluminium panels

As well as tapping threads it’s easy to mix several different parts on the same sheet. This CNC punching nest has 2 parts that can easy be seen here. There is also a good example of common line cutting on both parts.

For more examples of CNC punching it’s well worth visiting our Pinterest Board “CNC Punching Sheet Metal Work”

Of course you may already have a design in mind for you CNC punching aluminium sheet metal. If this is the case but you are not quite sure how to go about it please give a call. However, we are always happy to help you with your design or review your drawings. Please send us files to sales@vandf.co.uk and our engineering team will take a look for you.

Sheet metal components manufactured in Great Britain

Thursday, December 6th, 2018

Sheet metal components manufactured in Great Britain using the latest manufacturing equipment.

Here’s a great collection of sheet metal components that we have manufactured for our customers in Great Britain. All the parts you see here have been made to our customers own designs. We will help them wherever needed to produce the most efficient component for manufacturing.

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

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

We manufacture sheet metal parts and welded assemblies every day here in Hampshire and are proud to have done for over 30 years now. Helping and supporting a wide range of companies including the lighting, heating, audio and electronics industries.

CNC punching sheet metal work

CNC punching sheet metal work

Sheet metal brackets made in Great Britain

Sheet metal brackets made in Great Britain

CNC folding with Trumpf 7036 press brakes

CNC folding with Trumpf 7036 press brakes

Whether the components are CNC punched, laser cut or CNC folded we have the right machines for your job. If you wish to learn more about “sheet metal work and how it’s made” follow this link. We also have the latest Radan CAD/CAM software enabling us to develop complex sheet metal work and try out your designs before we cut any metal.

Curved stainless steel sheet metal components

Curved stainless steel brackets

If you want to see more sheet metal components being manufactured please take a look at our YouTube channel, we are adding video all the time so please dig around a bit and you will find all sorts of interesting ideas.

CNC punching sheet metal components

Laser cutting sheet metal components

CNC bending sheet metal components

Perhaps you just want to have a chat about your latest idea and are not too sure if it can be manufactured. Give us a call and our engineering team will be happy to help. if you are already there with your design we can take a look and supply you with free estimates for different finishes and materials when needed. Call us on 01489 577786 or email sales@vandf.co.uk

Sub-contract CNC sheet metal manufacturing in Great Britain

Monday, November 5th, 2018

Sub-contract CNC sheet metal manufacturing

CNC folding sheet metal work

CNC folding sheet metal work

There are several advantages to CNC manufacturing.

Firstly, the speed with which new projects can be trialed. Often no special tooling is needed whether components are being CNC punched or CNC bent. And certainly no tooling is required if sheet metal manufacturing is taking place with laser cutting.

There is the ability to change details of a component’s blank size, hole positions or bends without tooling changes. This can lead to many design options and no extra costs for our customers. This is ideal when you have special projects or are looking for customisation within your product range.

The ability to produce components accurately and quickly across a range of batch sizes is another strength when looking to manufacture using CNC equipment. Here you can see 2 good examples of manufacturing repeatability within the CNC bending manufacturing process.

CNC sheet metal manufacturing

CNC sheet metal manufacturing

Everything we do at V and F Sheet Metal and the investments we make are to make your job easier. Quicker delivery of accurate parts at a price that will help you to compete and win new orders. We want to be an essential part of your business and offering the right service is very important to us.

All our CNC programs, whether they are generated by our engineering team or at the machine on the workshop are backed up offsite every night. We need to be able to access the right CNC program just when it’s needed to produce your work.

For more examples of CNC sheet metal manufacturing please take take a look at our Pinterest Boards.

If you are looking for a new supplier for your CNC manufactured sheet metal work then give our team a call (01489 57776). If you would prefer to e-mail (sales@vandf.co.uk) that’s no problem with us. Make the move today and start to reap the benefits of working with a flexible and reliable supplier.

Stainless steel blanks laser cut with Trumpf 3030 fibre laser

Monday, October 29th, 2018

stainless steel blanks

stainless steel laser cut blanks

Stainless steel used to be a difficult material to work with. It’s very hard and wears press tooling and CNC punch press tooling, stainless steel also needs high tonnages to process. Once laser cutting machines become available to the sub-contractor stainless steel blanks became much easier to produce.

stainless steel folded chassis

stainless steel folded chassis

Folding stainless components with the range of CNC press brakes that we have is easy for us. Whether we are using our small Guilfil or Trumpf machines for stainless steel brackets and chassis assemblies or our Safan e-Brake for longer sections, it makes no difference to us.

Stainless steel blanks are just the start of the process. If you want to know more about sheet metal production please take a look at “What is sheet metal work” for more details.

We have a YouTube channel with dozens of videos showing laser cutting, CNC punching and CNC bending stainless steel components.

Once you have a design you want manufacturing we will be happy to help you. Whether you want part designer in 430, 304 or 316 stainless steel we can help you and get the best from the material for you. Call us on 01489 577786 we are waiting to take your call.

Laser cutting mild steel brackets using a Trumpf 3030

Friday, October 19th, 2018

Laser cutting mild steel brackets at speed

Laser cutting mild steel brackets

Laser cutting mild steel brackets

We love manufacturing sheet metal brackets here at V and F Sheet Metal. Our manufacturing machinery is perfectly designed to produce small components like brackets, you just have to take a look at our website to see that. The image you can see here is through the safety glass looking onto our Trumpf 3030 3KW fibre laser cutting 3mm mild steel. The beauty of this machine is the ease with which we can go from job to job with virtually no set up time. Here we are laser cutting some brackets from material off-cuts from a previous order. The ability to amend CNC programs from full production sheets to smaller off-cuts enables us to offer the best prices. Using up remnants especially of expensive or thick materials is an easy way to keep costs down when quoting for work.

For more examples of past sheet metal bracket projects please take a look at our Bracket and Angle Gallery.

Or if you want to watch the laser cutter in action follow the link.

So, if you have a sheet metal bracket that needs manufacturing please give us a call. We are always happy to help you with ideas to speed up the manufacturing process to save you money. Perhaps you have designed a bracket and we can change some CNC punch tooling to suit standard tools and reduce punching time. We may have just the form tool needed to produce the curve you want.

Our engineering are always willing to help.

We are in a reflector mood at V and F Sheet Metal today!

Thursday, June 21st, 2018

Reflector assembly, their design and manufacture

You’ve guessed it, today I’m talking about the latest batch of reflectors we recently made in our factory! So if you’re interested in the process of reflector assembly then please read on.

Reflector slots and tabs

Reflector slots and tabs

Using the method of 3D modelling we were able to accurately calculate the reflector shapes and sizes that would fit together to produce the final reflector assembly. Each part is made using the same material, Alanod 33PG 0.4mm thick reflector aluminium. The 4 individual pieces of metal are joined together to produce a circular reflector.

The red sections have tabs on their outer edges, these fit in to corresponding slots on the sides of the green sections. Tabs and slots allow for a cheap method of assembly as other components such as bushes and studs are not required. In addition, the method of assembly is relatively easy. The reflectors could be assembled by V and F Sheet Metal or the customer, the choice is there. It goes without saying that this method of assembly is only useful when the metal being used is thin and soft enough to be deformed by hand.

Reflector Nest

Reflector Nest

After the modelling using Radan software we need to develop the flat blank and nest the components together to produce the best yield from the material. In this case both parts have been mixed together in the same nest. Parts were punched out on our Trumpf 200 CNC punch press from sheet aluminium 2m long x 1.25m wide.

As you can see in the final image, the material used has a convex hammer pattern, but it is also available in a concave design. The convex arrangement produces a soft lighting effect which would be useful in certain situations where a soft/background lighting is required.

Punched reflector component

Punched reflector component

And the next step is

If you have a product that you think may benefit from using tabs and slots then please give us a call on 01489 577786 or email if you prefer at sales@vandf.co.uk. Our sheet metal engineering team are always happy to help and love a challenge. With over 50 years experience between them there’s not much they haven’t come across in the world of lighting.

For a range of lighting and past reflector projects take a look at our Pinterest Lighting Board.

Folding sheet metal brackets from mild steel laser cut blanks

Sunday, May 13th, 2018

Folding sheet metal brackets from mild steel laser cut blanks using our Trumpf 7036 CNC press brakes

So the best place to start when you want an accurate sheet metal component is an accurate blank. Using years of experience and the latest CAD/CAM software we are able to offer this with little fuss. Linking CNC programs to our CNC punching and laser cutting machines leads to efficient manufacturing. If you can start with an accurate blank it makes folding sheet metal brackets so much easier.

laser cut mild steel brackets

laser cut mild steel brackets

The best way to produce an accurate sheet metal blank is to use a laser cutter. We have the option of cutting accurate sheet metal blanks using our Trumpf 3030 fibre laser cutter. Depending on the component’s shape, material and thickness we will decide whether to CNC punch or laser cut. These parts have been laser cut which was perfect for the shape and batch size involved.

CNC press brake tooling folding sheet metal brackets

CNC press brake tooling folding sheet metal brackets

Once an accurate sheet metal blank has been produced we can tackle the folding. We are lucky to have such a wide range of machines to fold our sheet metal work. Perhaps we might have a simple sheet metal part and fold it on a fly-press of Guifil CNC press brake. We may use our Safan e-brake with it’s 3M bed. In this case the Trumpf 7036 CNC press brakes were ideal for the job. The component’s CNC program was written in under 10 minutes. The tooling was all laid out for one bending sequence. And off we went producing parts.

CNC folded mild steel brackets

CNC folded mild steel brackets

Finally the finished article. A mild steel bracket with a series of bends and stiffening points built into the bends. Folding sheet metal brackets couldn’t be made easier than when using a laser cutter in conjunction with a CNC press brake.

Looking to get some sheet metal brackets manufactured then please give us a call. We love a challange, send us your STEP or DXF files and we will get working on a quote for you. Call 01489 577786 or e-mail sales@vandf.co.uk for help with your sheet metal project.

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