The most important factor when choosing a material for sheet metal fabrication is how the finished part will be used. The following explains briefly the main materials that we use.
Mild Steel
Mild steel is one of the strongest materials available to use in fabrication. It is very easily welded and costs less than most other materials. However, mild steel does have one major problem: it rusts. This can be protected against by coating the finished part with a coating such as powder coat or even galvanising.
Stainless Steel
Stainless Steel – The corrosion resistant material. This material can be used in its natural state and resists corrosion. The two most common grades of stainless steel are Grade 304 and Grade 316. Grade 304 is suitable for most indoor applications, whereas Grade 316 contains molybdenum and is suitable for use in marine environments and areas where there is exposure to chemicals, such as food production. The cost of this material is significantly higher than mild steel.
Aluminium
Aluminium is around one third the weight of steel and therefore very suitable for lightweight parts and for parts that need to be moved around a lot. The material can easily be machined and also anodized in a wide range of colours to create a durable surface finish.
Copper and Brass
Copper and Brass are used where high electrical conductivity, heat transfer or high visual appeal are required. Further material information is detailed on the Copper Development Association web site.
Matching Material to Your Project
), budget and the finish required. A simple indoor bracket would be mild steel powder coated. Parts to be left outdoors or used in a hygiene critical environment would be better made from stainless or aluminium to avoid the cost of future maintenance. More on Sheet Metal Fabrication can be found at https://dkmsheetmetal.co.uk.
Choosing the right material for your project at the beginning will save you from having to change it later to get the finished product to cost as little as possible.
