Sheet Metal Fabrication Blog

If you're looking for information on design for manufacturing (DFM) for sheet metal fabrication, you've come to the right place. Our blog is packed with articles on everything from how to design parts for manufacturability to tips on choosing the right material, weld type, hardware, and more for your project. Whether you're a design engineer or a buyer of custom sheet metal parts, we're sure you'll find something interesting here.

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Telecommunications
Industry Spotlight: Sheet Metal Fabrication for the Telecommunications Industry (Updated for 2026)
Telecommunications infrastructure forms the backbone of our digital world, enabling the instant global communication that billions rely on ...
lot charges
Sticker Shock from Lot Charges? Explore 4 Smart Strategies to Manage Costs (Updated for 2026)
In sheet metal fabrication, sometimes an RFQ for a seemingly simple part can return an unexpectedly high quote, ...
tolerances
When Design Meets Reality: Tackling Unachievable Tolerances in Sheet Metal Fabrication (Updated for 2026)
The ASM team has reviewed tens of thousands of sheet metal drawings over the years. Our experience allows ...
tubular frames
The Engineer’s Guide to Custom Tubular Frames (Updated for 2025)
At the core of many industrial and commercial products lie tubular frames-structures designed to provide support, stability, and ...
price
Beyond Price: 5 Key Factors to Consider When Choosing a Metal Fabricator (Updated for 2026)
At Approved Sheet Metal, we take pride in offering competitive pricing. However, we know that there's more to ...
zinc plating
Choosing the Right Zinc Plating: Type I vs. Type II Explained (Updated for 2026)
When it comes to protecting your metal parts, the choice of finish is crucial for both the functionality ...
rework
From Design to Delivery: Best Practices to Prevent Rework in Metal Fabrication (Updated for 2026)
At Approved Sheet Metal, we are often asked to rework parts for our customers, either because of a ...
design formulas
Bookmark These Top 5 Sheet Metal Design Formulas (Updated for 2026)
Sheet metal forming is a core part of custom sheet metal fabrication. Most fabricated parts require bending, which ...
Close-up Copper Bus Bar with Hole
Top 3 Benefits of Using Copper in Custom Sheet Metal Fabrication (Updated for 2026)
When you think about sheet metal fabrication, which metals come to mind? Most people think of aluminum and ...
EMI/RFI Shielding
A Guide to EMI/RFI Shielding in Custom Sheet Metal Fabrication (Updated for 2025)
EMI/RFI shielding provides critical protection against electromagnetic and radio frequency interference for many electronics components and assemblies. Without ...
electronics
Industry Spotlight: Sheet Metal Fabrication for the Electronics Industry (Updated for 2026)
Here at Approved Sheet Metal, we know how much the electronics industry relies on high-precision sheet metal parts. ...
Component Consolidation
Simplify, Consolidate, Save: 8 Key Benefits of Component Consolidation in Metal Fabrication (Updated for 2026)
Here at ASM, we believe that efficient sheet metal fabrication starts with simplification. One of the most effective ...
Copper and Aluminum Busbars
Copper vs. Aluminum Busbars: 8 Key Differences and How to Choose Which One Is Right for Your Application (Updated for 2026)
While busbars have become the go-to option for electricity distribution across a range of industries, it can be ...
fabricated covers
Mastering Sheet Metal Fabricated Covers: Design Tips and Fabrication Insights from Approved Sheet Metal (Updated for 2025)
With all the metal enclosures we fabricate at Approved Sheet Metal (ASM), it's no surprise that we also ...
certifications
Top Certifications and Inspection Reports That Matter for Custom Precision Sheet Metal Part Buyers (Updated for 2025)
A certificate or registration can speak volumes in precision sheet metal fabrication, assuring customers that a shop offers ...
Corrosion Resistance
How to Design Corrosion Resistant Sheet Metal Parts (Updated for 2025)
Corrosion occurs when environmental conditions trigger a chemical reaction that converts refined metal into its hydroxide, oxide, or ...
sheet metal assemblies
5 Design Hacks for Sheet Metal Assemblies (Updated for 2025)
Approved Sheet Metal fabricates a wide range of sheet metal assemblies for customers, from small sub-assemblies to massive ...
aerospace
Industry Spotlight: Sheet Metal Manufacturing for Aerospace (Updated for 2025)
At Approved Sheet Metal, we have extensive experience fabricating high-precision sheet metal components and assemblies for aerospace industry ...
fabrication terms
11 Sheet Metal Fab Terms Engineers Need to Know
We admit it. We're guilty. Here at Approved Sheet Metal, our fabricators casually toss out sheet metal fab ...
Fabricated Enclosures
The Engineer’s Guide to Superior Fabricated Enclosures (Updated for 2025)
Any job shop can build a box, but only the experts at Approved Sheet Metal can deliver short-run ...
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