Precision Sheet Metal Design Resources

Precision Sheet Metal Design eBooks and Blogs to help you Better Design Sheet Metal Parts

Sheet Metal Fabrication eBook

Sheet Metal Design Guidelines eBook [Download]

Our sheet metal design for manufacturing eBook is an essential guide for anyone looking to design parts that can be manufactured faster with less back and forth. This ebook provides an overview of best practices in sheet metal design of features and common design elements, including hems, offset, notches & tabs, welding, corners, uniform thickness, and more. If you're a sheet metal designer, this eBook is an essential resource for you.

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SOLIDWORKS Tech Tip Videos with Dave Pincince

Certified SOLIDWORKS Associate in Mechanical Design

Dave Pincince has been in the metal fabrication industry for over 25 years, starting at his Dad's shop in the deburring department when he was 19 years old. A 13-year SOLIDWORKS veteran, Dave has been using computer-aided design software to allow him to visually demonstrate to customers how sheet metal is designed and how it can be used effectively for ease of fabricating. Dave enjoys working with customers on their projects and sharing his knowledge of sheet metal design concepts with engineers to help them reduce costs and create a smooth and frictionless fabrication process.

solidworks sheet metal design videos

Sheet Metal CAD Tooling Library

Say goodbye to the tedious process of designing basic sheet metal features from scratch. Our 3D tooling library empowers mechanical engineers and product developers to accelerate their design process by providing pre-designed tooling options. Focus on the creative aspect of your projects and deliver exceptional results faster.

Sheet Metal CAD Tooling Library - 1.946 X 1.415 X .250 - .059 Thickness
1.946 X 1.415 X .250 - .059 Thickness
Sheet Metal CAD Tooling Library - .108 x .295 x .132 - .059 Thickness
.108 x .295 x .132 - .059 Thickness
Sheet Metal CAD Tooling Library - 2.985 X .615 X .210 - 0.047 - 0.080 Thickness
2.985 X .615 X .210 - 0.047 - 0.080 Thickness
Sheet Metal CAD Tooling Library - 4.000 X .750 X .310 - 0.060 - 0.100 Thickness
4.000 X .750 X .310 - 0.060 - 0.100 Thickness

Introducing FabChat Ai™

FabChat Ai™, your go-to AI companion for all things sheet metal design! Whether you're a seasoned mechanical engineer or a budding product developer, FabChat Ai™ is here to streamline your sheet metal part design process. FabChat Ai™ is tailored to provide comprehensive guidance and insights on sheet metal design for manufacturing.

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Charts and Reference Sheets

Sheet Metal Bend Gains Chart [Download]

At Approved Sheet Metal, we aim to make your life (and ours!) easier. We created our own custom sheet metal bend gains chart so engineers and metal fabricators can always be on the same page. This information is our secret sauce, but we’re happy to share it with you.

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Sheet Metal Hardware Hole Sizes [Download]

Approved Sheet Metal is always looking for ways to improve the customer experience, so we created a handy hardware hole sizes chart for product developers to reference when designing custom sheet metal parts. We recommend using this chart for your drawings so that we can get your hardware inserted correctly the first time.

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Sheet Metal Hardware Reference Sheet [Download]

Engineers commonly default to using steel hardware for their custom sheet metal parts—and it’s easy to understand why. Steel hardware is the cheapest and most ubiquitous option. If you have a steel part or a part that will be powder coated or zinc plated, steel hardware is a viable solution that will definitely save you some money. When you’re dealing with certain materials or processes, standard steel hardware can actually be detrimental to your parts.

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Sheet Metal Design Centric Blogs

Corrosion Resistance
How to Design Corrosion Resistant Sheet Metal Parts
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
Approved Sheet Metal fabricates a wide range of sheet metal assemblies for customers, from small sub-assemblies to massive ...
fabrication terms
10 Sheet Metal Fab Terms Engineers Need to Know
We admit it. We're guilty. Here at Approved Sheet Metal, our fabricators casually toss out terms like "DFM" ...
Fabricated Enclosures
The Engineer’s Guide to Superior Fabricated Enclosures
Any job shop can build a box, but only the experts at Approved Sheet Metal can deliver short-run ...
Chamfers and Radii
Chamfers & Radii – Everything Product Developers Need to Know
Chamfers and radii are commonly requested features in custom sheet metal fabrication that can occasionally cause confusion. Whether ...
stamping
Traditional Sheet Metal Fabrication vs. Sheet Metal Stamping: Which Does Your Part Need?
Here's an interesting bit of information: the number one reason ASM no-quotes a part is that it cannot ...
Converting a Solid Part to a Sheet Metal Part in SOLIDWORKS (Updated for 2024)
Converting a solid part to a sheet metal part in software like SOLIDWORKS is important for several reasons: ...
Design Mistakes
Avoid These 4 Common Design Mistakes in Sheet Metal Fabrication
At Approved Sheet Metal (ASM), we're your ally in achieving first-rate results on each and every order. With ...
Slots and Tabs
Optimizing Sheet Metal Designs: 5 Tips for Mechanical Engineers
Sheet metal fabrication is a highly versatile process for creating durable parts, ranging from single prototypes to large-scale ...
Cad Tooling Library
Cut Costs and Boost Efficiency with ASM’s Sheet Metal CAD Tooling Library
1.074 x .665 x .130 - .059 Thickness What if you could design the most common sheet metal ...
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