Sheet metal and lasers go hand in hand. While it sounds futuristic, the process is relatively simple – by taking electronic data from a CAD drawing or 3D modelling software, laser cutting machines then create flat form parts by burning or melting the metal.

Laser cutting sheet metal

Laser cutting works by moving a laser beam into the cutting area of a metal sheet, which burns or melts the metal. Then, an assist gas is used to clear the cut zone of the molten material, producing a cut. This process works best on carbon steel or stainless steel, and an experienced operator operating the machine needs to be present at all times – to run the laser efficiently and accurately, many hours of training are involved.

Laser cutting benefits

Rather than choosing other cutting methods, laser cutting is more precise, resulting in higher accuracy cuts and a better-quality finish. It’s very cost-effective since the machines are fast and reliable. The speed of the machines decreases turnaround times and provides a more cost-efficient method of metal fabrication. Laser cutting machines are also immensely flexible, offering almost unlimited choice when it comes to patterns.

Laser cutting limitations

The quality of the laser cut edge is dependent on the type and thickness of the sheet metal used. As the thickness increases, the edge of where the molten area meets the cool zone become more prominent – this is important to keep in mind if you want a clean finish.

Laser cutting for aesthetics

With its immense precision, laser cut metal sheets can be as unique as you want.

You can incorporate your own unique personalized touch, such as a company logo or design brand to create innovative, unique screens or panels.

Laser cut metal screens can be used internally for railings or wall features, suspended ceilings and privacy screens. They’re also used as room dividers, for example, in the dining and breakfast area in various hotels.

When used externally, laser cutting is used for window shutters and balconies. Laser cut screens are ideal for stairwells as they retain the flow of light, but act as a protective barrier.

It’s no wonder that laser cutting is a favorite in the sheet metal fabrication industry. At ColibrisODM, laser cutting stands as one of the most popular options of manufacturing for our clients.

One of the most adaptable and widely used materials in construction is sheet metal, with additional applications in almost every industry imaginable – from mining and farming, to catering and hospitality, with it even finding its place in aviation and medical industries.

But it’s not only used in industrial contexts, as it is found in so many domestic applications. If you lift your head from your laptop or phone, you can see it all around you – your kitchen bench top might be adorned with a metal surround, your home appliances have parts from metal sheets, and even that unique punched metal screen in your living room was used as an eye-catching interior design feature.

Sheet metal provides a bundle of advantages whether you’re just a man on the street, or an engineer or contractor. Doesn’t matter whether you prefer stainless steel metal sheets or aluminum, the advantages stay the same.

• Easy to transport and easy to work with – sheet metal has a surprisingly low weight to thickness ratio.
• Strong and durable – sheet metal is the ideal high-strength material in a variety of applications from harsh agricultural environments (that spare part in your grass mower? Exactly that) to extreme temperatures (even industrial washing machines and ovens).
• Malleable – sheet metal can be formed, cut, bent or stretched into just about any shape imaginable, allowing sheet metal fabricators to offer highly customized solutions to any preferences possible.
• Easy repair – metal sheets can be fixed surprisingly easy, which is why it is a practical choice in many different applications.
• Low cost – sheet metal’s cost is an advantage in both large quantities for mass production and in single piece orders.

In the metal processing industry, various technological advancements in the machinery used for cutting and forming sheet metal have led to a greater adaptability of this material in different applications. For example, Computer Numerical Control or CNC machining has introduced consumers to a far greater precision than was ever possible through manual machining. These days, sheet metal fabricators can produce complex shapes accurately, quickly and cost-effectively.

At ColibrisODM, we try to offer our clients what’s best – we check the quality of every order ourselves and ensure that your sheet metal projects are exactly what you have in mind. With rapid prototyping, you can take a look yourself – before placing a bigger order, try out our instant quotation tool and check the future quality of your sheet metal project yourself, with production starting in just 3 days after you order.

Copper and brass are both a favorite for metal processing, and it has been that way for a reason – many metal machining shops offer these materials for an added aesthetic flare or as an integral architectural detail.

Brass was the favorite of the Victorians with many house embellishments being adorned with this metal – it was a status symbol, as it took a lot of time to clean and keep the brass shiny. Copper was a greatly important metal for ancient humans and continues to be a material of choice for a variety of domestic, industrial, and high-tech applications. While aesthetically similar, it’s important to know which of these bronze-colored metals to choose for your next project – using the wrong type of sheet metal can have disastrous effects, especially if your creation requires to hold any form of structural integrity.

Before selecting the material for your next sheet metal project, consider these methods for differentiating between copper and brass.

Method 1: Color Inspection

Both brass and copper sheets develop patina as they age, which results in a dark surface with green specs. But don’t worry, you can freely clean the metal using brass cleaning techniques – they’re safe for both copper and brass. Once finished, hold the metal surface up to a florescent light source.

Copper is a single metal, meaning its composition is almost always exactly the same. In comparison, brass is an alloy and the colors of the metal sheets will vary, depending on the combination of metals present. If you want to know whether the metal sheet you’re holding is copper, you can compare them to the lowest value Euro coins – these coins that always get lost at the bottom of your pockets are made from copper-plated steel. If the sheet’s color resembles the coin, you have a copper sheet in your hands. However, if the color is visibly different, then you have brass sheet metal.

Additionally, copper is known for its reddish coloring while brass may have variations that can range from orange red to yellow. Yellow brass contains a higher concentration of zinc while the darker brass, also known as red or orange brass, contains more copper – even up to 80%.

Method 2: Check the Codes

Thank you, tedious administrative jobs! Identification is way easier, since most brass pieces, even sheets that are made for industrial use, must have a stamped code on them. These codes give both the supplier and the client a simple solution to identify the metal or the alloy in front of them. Both North American and European manufacturers label brass pieces with a “C” which is then followed by a series of numbers.

Keep in mind that copper pieces are usually left unlabeled, so do not get confused – it’s all brass metal sheets with the “C” label, even with codes like C3, C4 or even C10100. However, these codes are not present in older brass pieces as this is a relatively recent identification system.

Method 3: Ask Your Sheet Metal Supplier

The best and the simplest way to be 100% sure of the type of metal you are about to use is to ask your supplier about them.

At ColibrisODM, we put in full trust in our metal fabrication partners, and so should you – while we do check the quality of the production of your projects, you can always be assured that you’re getting the correct metal when ordering.

And if you’re unsure about the best metal choice for your sheet metal project, don’t worry – we offer a technical consultation where we will provide you with all of the necessary industry know-hows from our experienced team members.

Are you thinking of creating a custom-made bicycle component or prototype? ColibrisODM can take care of your individual needs.

Since bike and bike parts’  shortages continue to afflict the cycling industry, on-demand manufacturing is a perfect solution allowing customers and companies to prototype custom-made products and deliver them on time  — be it one unit or a thousand.

What is more, it guarantees a greater design freedom and operational agility, plus a list of other advantages that emerge when the end-use capabilities permitted by Additive Manufacturing reflect in the final product.

Here is one of the examples of how ColibrisODM was able to accommodate the need for a one-off component – a carrier: from a sketch to the final product.

The process of product development represented a series of steps that were followed.

The first stage included designing a CAD model which allowed implementing the full cycle of development for the product according to its technical requirements.

Fig. 1 An initial drawing of the carrier

Then the 3D file was uploaded to the ColibrisODM AI-driven Quoting Engine and the system selected the best production process based on the part’s geometry. ⤵️

Fig. 2 Manufactured part: custom-made carrier

“By ordering a carrier through the ColibrisODM system I was able to reduce my expenses – the part was produced in a single run and took less than a week to be delivered”, – says J.B.

This example illustrates how our client was able to scale his component to fit the demanded size by reducing not only his expenses but also the lead time.

After the production was completed and the part passed the quality check, it was delivered at our client’s doorstep. Here you can see the final result after the part was mounted to the bike.

Fig. 3 Final product: part mounted to the bike

From October 26-29 the international trade fair for sheet metal forming has been taking place in Stuttgart again after a two-year break.

Within the shortest timeframe, Blech Expo Messe has been able to gain a leading position in Europe and now ranks second in the world (more…)

Since the technological advances gained momentum towards the automation of manufacturing processes (especially towards the design of machines capable of being programmed to carry out all manual tasks of an operator automatically, (more…)