Industry Spotlight: Sheet Metal Fabrication for the Medical Industry (Updated for 2026)

Last updated on August 27th, 2026 at 09:09 am

Medical device manufacturers rely on custom sheet metal parts for enclosures, carts, frames, trays, cabinets, equipment housings, and other mechanical components. These parts often require precise dimensions, repeatable fabrication, clean welds, compatible materials, and finishes selected around the equipment’s environment and functional requirements.

At Approved Sheet Metal, we fabricate precision sheet metal medical device components and assemblies for manufacturers ranging from growing product companies to Fortune 500 medical device companies.

From our custom fabrication shop in Hudson, New Hampshire, we support prototype and low-volume medical device projects with laser cutting, forming, welding, hardware insertion, assembly, and tubular fabrication.

In 2021, we acquired Nashua Fabrication, expanding our capabilities for tubular stainless steel parts used in pharmaceutical, biomedical, and other demanding applications.

Common Parts We Fabricate for the Medical Device Industry

Whether you bring us an early-stage design or detailed production prints, we can transform your design into precision sheet metal parts and assemblies. Components we commonly fabricate for medical equipment include:

• Covers
• Custom medical carts
• Enclosures
• Equipment housings and panels
• Cabinets
• Trays and chassis
• Tubular frames and welded assemblies

One of our specialized capabilities for the medical industry is custom stainless steel tubular frames.

Applications for these frames include supply carts, trays, chassis, test tube racks, baskets, and equipment structures. Our in-house fabrication capabilities allow us to combine sheet metal and tubular components into complete assemblies when a project requires both.

Common Materials for Medical Device Sheet Metal Parts

Stainless steel and aluminum are two of the most common material families we see for fabricated medical equipment components. The best choice depends on the part’s strength, weight, corrosion resistance, forming, welding, cleaning, and finishing requirements.

Stainless Steel 316

316 stainless steel is commonly selected when corrosion resistance and compatibility with demanding environments are important. It is frequently used for frames, trays, carts, housings, and other components that may be exposed to moisture, cleaning agents, or repeated cleaning processes.

Stainless steel can also be welded and finished to achieve different functional and cosmetic requirements. The appropriate grade and finish should ultimately be based on the requirements specified for the particular component or assembly.

Aluminum 5052

Aluminum 5052 is a popular sheet metal material because of its excellent formability, weldability, relatively low weight, and corrosion resistance. These characteristics make it well suited for many formed enclosures, covers, panels, brackets, and equipment components.

When we review a custom fabrication project, we can help identify potential manufacturability concerns associated with the specified material, thickness, geometry, and fabrication processes.

Medical Sheet Metal Material Comparison

Surface Finish Considerations for Medical Device Components

Surface finish can be an important consideration for fabricated medical equipment components. Corrosion resistance, appearance, wear, cleaning requirements, electrical requirements, and the environment in which the equipment will operate can all influence the appropriate finishing process.

The required finish should be specified based on the needs of the particular component or assembly rather than assuming one finish is appropriate for every medical application.

1. Passivation for Stainless Steel

Passivation is a chemical treatment commonly used on stainless steel to remove free iron and other surface contaminants and help maximize the material’s natural corrosion resistance.

Whether passivation is required depends on the material, application, customer specification, and applicable drawing or manufacturing requirements.

2. Electropolishing for Stainless Steel

Electropolishing removes a microscopic layer of material from a stainless steel surface, producing a smoother and more uniform finish. It may be specified when surface smoothness, corrosion resistance, cleanability, or appearance is important.

Surface roughness requirements should be clearly identified on the drawing when they are critical to the application.

3. Anodizing for Aluminum Components

Anodizing can increase the corrosion and wear resistance of aluminum components while also providing cosmetic and identification options.

• Type II anodizing is commonly used when corrosion resistance, appearance, or color identification is important.
• Type III hard anodizing provides a harder surface for applications requiring greater wear resistance.

4. Powder Coating

Powder coating provides a durable protective and cosmetic finish and is commonly used on equipment enclosures, carts, cabinets, covers, and other fabricated components.

Designers should account for coating thickness around holes, mating surfaces, hardware locations, grounding points, and other tolerance-sensitive features. Masking requirements should be clearly identified on the drawing.

5. Bead Blasting

Bead blasting can create a consistent matte appearance and may also be used as part of a surface preparation or finishing process. If cosmetic appearance is important, designers should identify visible or critical surfaces on the drawing so the fabricator understands the desired result.

Designing Sheet Metal Parts for Medical Equipment

Good design for manufacturability can reduce fabrication cost, shorten lead time, and help prevent problems when individual sheet metal components are assembled into a larger medical device or piece of equipment.

When designing these parts, consider the complete manufacturing sequence rather than evaluating each feature independently.

Keep Geometry Manufacturable

Standard bend radii, achievable flange lengths, accessible weld joints, and readily available material thicknesses can simplify fabrication. Features located too close to bends, edges, hardware, or other formed features may require design changes or additional operations.

Consider Cleaning and Accessibility Requirements

If the finished equipment has specific cleaning requirements, consider how corners, seams, fasteners, welds, and overlapping components affect access to those areas. Requirements for weld finishing, surface smoothness, or closed seams should be communicated on the drawing.

Plan Hardware and Assembly Features Early

Self-clinching hardware, hinges, handles, latches, mounting holes, tabs, slots, and other assembly features should be considered before the design is released for fabrication. Their locations can affect forming, welding, finishing, and final assembly.

Account for the Finish

Finishing can change dimensions and affect mating features. Powder coating, anodizing, plating, passivation, masking, and other finish requirements should be established early so they can be considered during fabrication.

Use Tight Tolerances Only Where They Are Needed

Applying tight tolerances to every dimension can unnecessarily increase manufacturing complexity and cost. Identify dimensions that are genuinely critical to fit and function and use practical sheet metal tolerances elsewhere.

What Should Be Included on a Medical Sheet Metal Part Drawing?

The more clearly your fabrication requirements are communicated, the easier it is for a sheet metal shop to quote and manufacture the part correctly.

Depending on the component, your drawing may need to identify:

• Material type and thickness
• Critical dimensions and tolerances
• Bend radii and formed dimensions
• Weld locations and weld symbols
• Required weld finish or cosmetic requirements
• Hardware manufacturer and part numbers
• Surface finish or coating specifications
• Masking requirements
• Surface roughness requirements, if applicable
• Cosmetic or exposed surfaces
• Assembly requirements
• Any customer-specific inspection or manufacturing requirements

Providing a solid 3D model along with a detailed drawing is particularly helpful for formed parts and assemblies because the model communicates the geometry while the drawing identifies the requirements that cannot always be determined from CAD alone.

Fabrication Capabilities That Support the Medical Device Industry

At Approved Sheet Metal, we support prototype and low-volume medical device components and assemblies with multiple fabrication capabilities under one roof.

Our capabilities include:

• In-house sheet metal forming
• In-house fiber laser cutting
• In-house CNC punching
• In-house MIG, TIG, and spot welding
• Hardware insertion
• Sheet metal assemblies
• Tube laser cutting and tubular fabrication
• Finishing options including powder coating, anodizing, plating, and other processes depending on project requirements

We can fabricate individual components or combine cutting, forming, welding, hardware insertion, finishing, and assembly to deliver more complete fabricated assemblies.

If you need prototype or low-volume precision sheet metal parts for medical equipment, request a quote and send us your 3D models and drawings. Our team will review the project for manufacturability and help identify potential fabrication issues before production begins.