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CNC bending and foldingcnc punchengineeringEngineering and Sheet Metal Newslaser cuttingsheet metalSheet metal dataSheet metal fabricationsSheet metal facilitiesTrumpf manufacturing equipmentUncategorizedWelding

Laser cutting aluminium display panels with a fibre laser cutter

Monday, April 24th, 2017


Fast Tube by Casper

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

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

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

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

Sheet metal fabrications in the UK 2017

Thursday, April 20th, 2017

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

Sheet metal fabrications

Sheet metal blanks waiting to be folded up

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

Laser cutting sheet metal work

Laser cutting sheet metal work

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

Sheet metal work

Sheet metal work

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

Spot welded sheet metal fabrications

Spot welded sheet metal fabrications

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

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

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

Simple CNC punching techniques to produce sheet metal work

Tuesday, April 18th, 2017

Simple CNC punching Techniques

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

CNC punched diamond patterns

CNC punched diamond patterns

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

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

CNC punched dimples

CNC punched dimples

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

Simple cnc punching techniques

CNC punched vents

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

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

To see our Trumpf 200 in action producing circular discs and using it’s part chute take a look at our YouTube Channel

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

CNC Punching aluminium nest of parts

Thursday, April 13th, 2017


CNC punching Aluminium components from the same sheet of metal


Fast Tube by Casper

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

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

Programming for CNC aluminium components

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

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

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

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

Monday, April 10th, 2017

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

Laser cutting sheet metal work

Laser cutting sheet metal work

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

New CNC press brake in work

New machine starts work straight away

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

Sheet Metal Projects in March 2017

Formed sheet metal chassis

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

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

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

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

Thursday, April 6th, 2017

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

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

Laser cutting sheet metal work

Laser cutting sheet metal work

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

Bending sheet metal fabrications

Bending sheet metal fabrications

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

Spot welded sheet metal fabrications

Spot welded sheet metal fabrications

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

Sheet metal brackets

Sheet metal brackets

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

Formed sheet metal chassis

Formed sheet metal chassis

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

Sheet metal housings

Sheet metal housings

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

CNC punching machines

CNC punching machines

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

Sheet metal folding facility

Sheet metal folding facility

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

Sheet metal blanks waiting to be folded up

Sheet metal blanks waiting to be folded up

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

What is sheet metal fabrication

Welding sheet metal

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

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

What is sheet metal fabrication? Still want to see more examples, why not take a look at our Pinterest Boards for thousands of examples of sheet metal fabrications.

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

Monday, April 3rd, 2017

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

Laser cutting sheet metal work CNC program nest

Laser cutting sheet metal work CNC program nest

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

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

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

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

Where can I buy laser cut sheet metal

Laser cut 5mm thick aluminium sheet metal project

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

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

Sheet metal bending using a Trumpf 7036 CNC press brake

Thursday, March 30th, 2017

Sheet metal bending using a Trumpf 7036 CNC press brake

Bending stainless steel brackets

Bending stainless steel brackets

Bending mild steel brackets

Bending mild steel brackets

Sheet metal bending

CNC bending sheet metal tabs

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

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

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

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

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

Tuesday, March 28th, 2017

Extra bending capacity at V and F Sheet Metal

Ready to join the gang

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

New CNC press brake in work

New machine starts work straight away

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

Now all 3 Trumpf 7036 CNC press brakes are working toegther

Not to be left out all 3 machines are busy

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

Brand new sheet metal bending facility in Fareham Hampshire

Monday, March 20th, 2017

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

Steady with the new Trumpf 7036

Almost there now

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

Perfect position for our Trumpf 7036

At last in it’s new home

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

Brand new sheet metal bending facility

Trumpf 7036 soon up and working

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

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

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

Getting ready for our new Trumpf 7036 CNC press brake

Monday, March 13th, 2017

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

CNC bending in Hampshire

Getting ready for our new 7036 CNC press brake

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

New Trumpf 7036 CNC press brake

Here’s our new press brake

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

Here comes a new CNC press brake

Should fit, I did measure it!

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

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

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

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

Monday, February 27th, 2017

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

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

CNC punching sheet metal work

CNC punching sheet metal work

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

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

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

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

sheet metal work in the UK

Sheet metal work

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

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

Where can I purchase sheet metal work in the UK

Thursday, February 23rd, 2017

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

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

sheet metal work in the UK

Sheet metal work

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

Sheet metal work in Hampshire

Sheet metal work in Hampshire

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

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

CNC punching sheet metal work

CNC punching sheet metal work

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Tuesday, February 21st, 2017

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

Nibbling with a CNC punch press

Nibbling with a CNC punch press

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

Tapped threads using a CNC punch press

Tapped threads using a CNC punch press

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

CNC punching with banana tooling

CNC punching with banana tooling

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

Design ideas for CNC punching

CNC punched mild steel

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

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

CNC programming punch presses for punching sheet metal work

Thursday, February 16th, 2017

CNC programming using Radan CAD/CAM sheet metal software

3D sheet metal models in Radan software

3D models of sheet metal housings and covers

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

CNC punching nest for aluminium housings and brackets

CNC punching nest for aluminium housings and brackets

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

CNC programming

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

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

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

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

Monday, February 13th, 2017

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


Fast Tube by Casper

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

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

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

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

Sheet metal angle brackets manufactured to your designs in the UK

Thursday, February 9th, 2017

Trumpf 7036 CNC bending metal angle brackets

Trumpf 7036 CNC bending angle brackets

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

Sheet metal angle brackets

Sheet metal angle brackets

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

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

Give us a call.

CNC punching sheet metal work at V and F Sheet Metal

Monday, February 6th, 2017

CNC punching sheet metal work

CNC punching sheet metal work

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

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

CNC punching sheet metal work

CNC punched brackets produced from 3mm zintec coated mild steel

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

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

Laser cutting galvanised mild steel sheet metal plates

Thursday, February 2nd, 2017

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

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

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

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

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

Laser cutting galvanised mild steel

Laser cut galvanised steel plates

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

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

Welded fabrication aluminium sheet metal work UK

Monday, January 30th, 2017

Aluminium sheet metal work

Welded aluminium fabrications

Aluminium sheet metal work in Hampshire UK

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

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

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

Where can I find a sheet metal working company in Hampshire

Thursday, January 26th, 2017

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

Laser cutting sheet metal work

Laser cutting sheet metal work

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

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

CNC bending from a sheet metal working company in Hampshire

CNC bending sheet metal work

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

Sheet metal work in Hampshire

Sheet metal work in Hampshire

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

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

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

CNC punched light fitting reflectors produced at V and F Sheet Metal

Monday, January 23rd, 2017

CNC punching anodised aluminium reflector materials

CNC punching anodised aluminium reflector materials for industrial light fittings

Trumpf 200 use to produce CNC punched light fitting reflectors

Here’s our Trumpf 200 CNC punch press busy producing CNC punched light fitting reflectors. This machine is more than capable of punching out all of these types of part. The reflector parts are normally 0.4mm to 0.5mm thick so machine tonnage is never an issue when you have 19 tons to play with. The reflector materials we use are special pre-anodised aluminium with protective peelable films to keep the reflective surfaces clean and scratch free while in production. The Trumpf 200 as another advantage in that its acceleration is smooth and the punching speed can be slowed down. This is great when it comes to the end of a CNC punched nest of parts from a whole sheet. The final stages of CNC punching can make the sheet very weak and there is a risk that the very components we are trying to produce fall out of the next and we lose the whole sheet. With the Trumpf 200 this seldom happens enabling us to produce prices without the need for much allowance for scrap which is really useful with expensive light fitting reflector materials.

CNC punched light fitting reflectors

CNC punched light fitting reflectors

A closer look at the lighting reflectors being CNC punched in the image above. You can see that the components fit really nicely into the standard sheet size saving material and money. We would normally produce these parts in batches of 400 at a time and CNC punching is ideally suited to this type of work and volumes. All the features shown here have been punched out with standard V and F Sheet Metal tooling and are freely available to you if you want any sheet metal work.

Light fitting reflectors

Light fitting reflectors

A totally different light fitting project required thousands of CNC punched light fitting reflectors to be made in a short space of time. Again, the Trumpf 200 CNC punch press was used to produce many different light reflectors which were then folded up on our Trumpf 7036 CNC press brakes. The whole project took several weeks with over 120,000 bends being needed to complete all the parts.

We have lots of examples of past sheet metal projects we have manufactured for the Lighting Industry, please follow the links here for more general information or our Lighting Reflector Gallery.

If you have a light fitting project and you need lighting reflectors manufacturing out of sheet metal please give us a call and we will be happy help advise you and produce a range of prices if needed.

Sheet metal work laser cutting programs

Thursday, January 19th, 2017

Sheet metal work laser cutting programs produced for our Trumpf 3030 fibre laser machine using Radan sheet metal CAD/CAM 2016 software.

The images shown here are typical of the laser cutting programs used to manufacture sheet metal work with our laser cutting machine. The laser cutting programs can be used to cut a single part from a sheet, a full sheet of a single parts or a range of parts to make a set ready for a project. This flexibility in being able to quickly create a program that suits a one of part, small batch or higher volume part with the same software in essential when offering a sub-contact laser cutting service. The parts that we laser cut may simple be blanks used direct by our customers or the starting point for a more complex part that may be folded up and welded etc.

We are always up with the latest version of Radan CAD/CAM software so that we can communicate with our customers using Solid Works or AutoCAD via DXF, DWG, STEP or SAT files. If you only have a PDF or JPG we can still take that information and create the right CAD data to program the laser and send you back a drawing if needed. If you want us to produce you some prices for your next sheet metal work order please send us your drawings to sales@vandf.co.uk and we will be happy to take a look for you.

Laser cutting sheet metal work CNC program nest

Laser cutting sheet metal work CNC program nest

Laser cutting programs

Laser cutting programs

Laser cutting sheet metal work CNC program nest

Laser cutting sheet metal work CNC program nest

Laser cutting sheet metal work CNC program nest

Laser cutting sheet metal work CNC program nest

Joggled sheet metal brackets and their uses in UK industry

Monday, January 16th, 2017

Aluminium sheet metal bracket folded with CNC press brakes and fly presses

Aluminium sheet metal bracket folded with CNC press brakes and fly presses

Joggled sheet metal brackets

Joggled form on aluminium bracket close up image

Sheet metal brackets containing joggled featured are often created by V and F Sheet Metal to meet our customers design requirements. Over the years we have built up a tooling library of simple tooling that we can use to press joggled forms in a range of materials and gauges. The joggles can be created either in the CNC press brake bending machines that we use or the flypresses that are used on smaller sheet metal work. Joggled sheet metal brackets are often needed to join 2 or more sections together which are a gauge apart. They a commonly used to enable sheet metal housings and covers to be fixed together with a smooth outer profile.

These simple joggled sheet metal brackets are typical of the type of sheet metal work that we are often called upon to help design and manufacture for our UK based customers. Sheet metal brackets such as these have been CNC punched, CNC bent and have joggled featured created with fly press tooling.

We can adapt many of our joggle tools to suit a wide range of design features and may well already have a tool that can satisfy your design ideas. If you send us you drawings we will easily be able to check out our nearest tools by cutting a piece of stock material forming it to shape and reporting back to you. We can post it to you or send a photo all free of charge. Once you are happy we can then produce the production brackets knowing yo will get what you want. Send us your ideas to sales@vandf.co.uk or give our engineering / programming team a call on 01489 577786 and we will be happy to chat through your ideas and help where we can, again all for free.

Assembly work and Sheet metal fabrication Hampshire UK

Thursday, January 12th, 2017

Sheet metal fabrication Hampshire

Sheet metal fabrication Hampshire – assembly of light fitting gear trays

Sheet metal fabrication Hampshire UK

V and F Sheet Metal have been based in Hampshire UK for over 30 years growing in the range of sheet metal fabrication services we offer our customers.  In that time we have built up a sheet metal working service for a huge range of companies right across the UK.  As well as CNC laser cutting, CNC punching and CNC bending we can offer a wide range of ancillary manufacturing services.  You just have to take a look at our website to see the comprehensive range of services offered.  With the latest CNC sheet metal working processes covered in house we are proud of the service we can offer you. A good starting point is to look at our gallery pages to see the range of sheet metal components and sheet metal assemblies we manufacture.

We are often called upon to simple supply sheet metal components to our customers drawings and that is fine with us.  Some of our customers will want us to arrange to have their components powder coated, zinc plate or anodised which again is not a problem.  We do also get involved with sheet metal fabrication assembly work.  This maybe simply spot welding several parts together to create custom built sub-assemblies.  Parts maybe welded together to create complex fabrications in ferrous or non-ferrous materials.  We are also asked to pop rivet parts together so final assembly is much quicker for our customers.  The sheet metal fabrications shown here have been CNC punched, CNC folded and then pop riveted together.  These assemblies are part of a control gear tray in a large industrial light fitting for one of our UK lighting customers.

The method of assembly you want will depend on the needs of your product but we can support simple hollow and solid pop riveting, spot welding, tack welding, solid riveting, assembly with self tapping screws etc.  It’s easy for us to provide you with prices with and without assembly so you can see which way you want to go in production, we are here to help you during the whole design to manufacturing cycle.

You can always give us a call or e-mail our engineering team to discuss your ideas and how we can support you to speed up the production time for you designs.

CNC punching UK at its best with V and F Sheet Metal

Monday, January 9th, 2017

For CNC punching UK at its best contact V and F Sheet Metal

CNC punching UK at its best

CNC punching aluminium electronic housings

CNC punching formed CSK in aluminium blanks

CNC punching fibre optic light box blanks

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

If you are looking for a great example of the versatility of CNC punching UK when it comes to producing sheet metal work, look no further. Using our Trumpf 3000 CNC punch press we have been able to punch out the profile, all the round holes and slots using standard CNC punch press tooling that we have on the shelf for any of our customers to use. The fan ventilation pattern was produced with custom tooling for a neat and quick solution in 3mm thick aluminium. All the countersunk (CSK) hole forms have also been pressed into the sheet metal using a range of our own tooling after a pilot hole has been punched in the sheet.

For a quick guide to all out standard CNC punch press tooling take a look at our tooling library. You should be able to find enough tooling to suit most of your sheet metal component design needs. Many tools can be used in combination to create more complex patterns and cut-outs. Tools can also be hit and indexed multiple times to create longer slots or larger window cut-outs. If you are still not sure you only have to call our engineering programming team and we will be happy to help advise on the best tooling to use on any given material type and thickness.

We also have a CNC punching gallery with many past projects to take a look at. It may be that there is something that we have made in the past which can give you the inspiration you need when thinking of your new sheet metal component design.

Still not sure about designing sheet metal products for CNC punching?

So for CNC punching UK at its best please give V and F Sheet Metal a call on 01489 577786 or send us your drawings to sales@vandf.co.uk and we will be happy to produce estimates for you.

Laser cut and CNC punched sheet metal panels manufactured direct to your designs

Wednesday, January 4th, 2017

CNC punched sheet metal panels

CNC punched sheet metal panels

Laser cut sheet metal panels

Laser cut sheet metal panels

Sheet metal panels come in such a wide variety of shapes and sizes. These sheet metal panels have been CNC punched and CNC laser cut. The slightly green image is the laser cut panels viewed through the fibre laser safety glass of the laser cutting machine. We have many examples of sheet metal panels on our website pages and blog posts. A good place to find more examples of sheet metal panels is our gallery pages. Which manufacturing machine we use depends on the material type, thickness and complexity of the sheet metal panels. If the panels are over 4mm thick they would definitely be laser cut. If the panels have very complex cut-outs or an outer profile that is difficult to produce without special CNC tooling then again they would be suitable for laser cutting. If however the panels have formed features such as tapped threads, formed ventilation louvres, raised dimples or self tapping screw forms then CNC punch would be the way to go.

We can often produce panels with either machine and have on occasions made large batches on both types of machine together. This flexibility of manufacturing service is something we are proud to offer our customers. We are here to help wherever we can with a flexible approach to production and with free advice on designing for manufacturing.

Perhaps you have some panels you need to have manufactured and you would like us to produce prices for you. Just send you drawings to sales@vandf.co.uk and we will be happy to take a look and help advise on your designs and offer competitive prices.

Still not sure? Give us a call on 01489 577786 and we will be happy to chat.

Sheet metal work with pressed inserts for quicker assembly

Sunday, January 1st, 2017

Sheet metal work with pressed inserts really does speed up your assembly times saving you money. Pressed inserts can also offer a more reliable method of servicing sheet metal parts for break downs and regular service inspections.

Black anodised angle brackets

Black anodised angle brackets

Black anodised aluminium angle brackets are typical of the sheet metal work containing pressed inserts that we produce for our UK based customers. These angle brackets have had mild steel zinc plated bushes inserted after the bracket have been treated with an anodising and black dye process. The brackets are used by an electric motor company in one of their pumping units and we normally manufacture them in batches of 100 at a time. The bushes are used to replace M4 nuts in assembly and speed up the time taken to screw them into their pump chassis. The principle can be applied to any fixing bracket whether it’s mid steel, stainless steel or aluminium.

Sheet metal work with pressed inserts

Folded zintec sheet metal chassis panels

Here’s another simple folded chassis manufactured from 3mm thick Zintec, a form of zinc coated mild steel sheet. The chassis components have been laser cut and folded up using CNC production equipment for speed and accuracy. The bushes are again pressed in to speed up the assembly times of our customer once they take the parts from us. The chassis are powder coated and all the inserted threads are blanked off prior to powder coating to enable easy assembly for our customers.

We have a range of equipment designed to press these inserts into sheet metal quickly and without leaving any witness marks. We insert hundreds of thousands of bushes and studs every year and will have a solution to your sheet metal design needs.

Sheet metal work with pressed inserts can come in all sorts of shapes and sizes and we have lots of examples in our Insert Gallery.

To really understand how we can help you with the vast array of bushes, studs and stand-offs that can be selected we suggest you give us a call and our engineering team will be happy to help. Alternatively, if you wish to send us your drawings we can check through them and suggest better alternative inserts when needed.

Folded stainless steel brackets produced on a Trumpf 7036 CNC press brake

Thursday, December 22nd, 2016

Trumpf 7036 set up ready for production of stainless steel brackets

Trumpf 7036 set up ready for production of stainless steel brackets

If you are looking for folded stainless steel brackets then V and F Sheet Metal have just the facility to help support you. Through 3D software modelling, CNC punching and laser cutting to CNC bending we will take care of the whole production process for you all under one roof. These folded stainless steel brackets are typical of the sub-contract sheet metal work that we produce every day of the week for our customers all over the UK. The Trumpf 7036 CNC press brakes we use to bend up small folded stainless steel brackets are ideally suited to this type of work. They are quick to program and set up as well as very fast in their production rates, all leading to very competitive prices for small and large batch metal work. Although we have shown them folding up small stainless steel brackets they can fold sheet metal profiles up to 1M long and will cover the vast majority of the sheet metal folding that we produce in our factory in Fareham, Hampshire, UK.

Laser cut and folded stainless steel brackets

Laser cut and folded stainless steel brackets

You can easily see that these brackets have radiused end and teardrop shaped holes which would have been very difficult to produce on a CNC punch press without bespoke tooling. With our Trumpf fibre laser these shapes are easy to produce and cost no more to produce than a standard square ended bracket with round holes. The Trumpf fibre laser machine really comes into its own when cutting thin sheet metal work or with small batches where the cost of CNC punch press tooling would not be viable.

Putting these cutting and folding machines together truly offers you a great manufacturing service right here in the UK.

What do I do next?

Perhaps you have a sheet metal bracket that you need to have manufactured. Why not give us a call on 01489 577786 or send us your drawings to sales@vandf.co.uk. We will be happy to take a look and produce some prices for you. We can also see whether your design can be improved for manufacturing saving you further time and money.

Sheet metal working projects review for 2016

Monday, December 19th, 2016

Sheet metal working projects from V and F Sheet Metal during 2016

Here are just a few of the sheet metal projects that we have posted on our sheet metal blog this year. The range of materials, sizes and complexities of sheet metal work we manufacture never ceases to amaze me.

I want to wish a big thanks to all our customers for their support and orders during 2016. Please keep your ideas and orders coming so we can expand our service and help you further in the future.

CNC punching sheet metal work

CNC punching sheet metal work

CNC punching sheet metal work

CNC punched brackets produced from 3mm zintec coated mild steel

Light fitting reflectors

Light fitting reflectors

Laser cut aluminium sheet metal projects

Laser cut aluminium sheet metal work

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

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

Typical 3D model of a galvanised mild steel bracket produced by V and F Sheet Metal

Typical 3D model of a galvanised mild steel bracket produced by V and F Sheet Metal

Black anodised angle brackets

Black anodised angle brackets

Laser cut sheet metal panels

Laser cut sheet metal panels

Sheet metal fabrication assembly of light fitting components

Sheet metal fabrication assembly of light fitting gear trays

brass sheet metal brackets

Folding brass sheet metal contactor brackets

Bending aluminium boxes

Bending aluminium boxes

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