Your Sheet Metal Fabrication Questions Answered

Everything you need to know, straight from Brisbane’s one-stop sheet metal specialists.

General FAQs

What does sheet metal fabrication involve?

Sheet metal fabrication combines cutting, folding, welding, punching, and finishing techniques to turn flat metal sheets into precise, functional components. These components are used in various areas, including battery storage, charging stations, automotive parts, custom manufacturing projects, and more.

What materials can you fabricate with?

We use stainless steel and mild steel, aluminium, copper, brass, and more.

What’s the difference between welding and fabrication?

Welding is one stage of the fabrication process, used to join metal parts. Fabrication includes welding along with cutting, bending, and finishing.

Laser Cutting FAQs

Is laser cutting or plasma cutting better?

Generally speaking, laser cutting is often better because it offers finer detail, smoother edges, and higher accuracy than plasma cutting.

What materials can you laser cut?

Our machines can cut mild steel, stainless steel, aluminium, copper, and brass with thicknesses of up to 20mm, depending on the material.

How is laser cutting programmed?

We use CNC software to translate digital designs directly to the machine, ensuring speed, consistency, and high repeatability.

Laser Punch Combination FAQs

What is a laser punch combination machine?

This is a multi-purpose system that combines laser cutting and punching in one automated process, making it ideal for complex sheet metal designs. Punching capability enables the use of additional functions to be done in the same processing sequence such as tapping and countersinking. This avoids unnecessary secondary processing which in turn reduces cost per part

Can it process different materials at the same time?

No, only one material type can be processed per run, but our machines are designed to switch quickly between different materials.

Does it replace all other fabrication processes?

No, not entirely. Folding, welding, and finishing are still required for complete fabrication, all of which we provide in-house.

Metal Folding FAQs

What materials can be folded?

We fold aluminium, stainless steel, mild steel, copper, and brass.

What are bend allowances and bend radii?

Bend allowance is the amount of material needed to make a bend, and bend radius is the internal radius of that bend. As a customer, you don’t need to worry about these details—just provide the final dimensions of your component, and our bending software will adjust the cutting file to ensure the folded material comes out to the correct size.

Panel Bending FAQs

What’s the advantage of panel bending over press braking?

Panel bending is faster and more consistent, especially for repetitive production. Our Salvagnini P2 completes up to 17 bends per minute, boosting output and helping to improve project efficiency. Panel benders are better suited to thin smaller sheetmetal parts.

Press brakes require more calculation and require an operator to action each individual fold. Press brakes are better suited to thicker and longer parts.

Can you create detailed designs with panel bending?

Yes, and it’s actually very well-suited for complex parts—especially when dealing with high volumes or repeatable precision.

What products are made with panel bending?

Many products are the result of panel bending, junction boxes, control cabinets, power distribution panels, vehicle storage boxes and more.

Welding FAQs

What is cobot welding?

Cobot is a word made from ‘collaborative’ and ‘robot’. It improves safety, consistency, and efficiency in repetitive welding tasks.

What’s the difference between MIG welding and TIG welding?

They both join separate metals together, but in different ways. In MIG welding, a consumable wire electrode is fed through the torch, melting continuously to fuse the materials. TIG welding, on the other hand, uses a non-consumable tungsten electrode and requires a separate handheld filler rod, offering greater precision and control.

What industries use welding services?

A wide range of industries use welding services, especially those in construction, transport, marine, and general manufacturing.

What are the benefits of MIG and TIG welding?

MIG welding is fast and effective for thicker materials like mild steel and aluminium, making it ideal for high-volume work. TIG welding offers greater precision and cleaner finishes, especially on thinner materials such as stainless steel.

Powder Coating FAQs

How long does powder coating last?

Most powder coats last between 10 and 20 years, depending on exposure and conditions. Their longevity is due to their ability to resist scratching, chipping, and corrosion better than paint.

Can you customise the colour?

Yes, we can. We offer a wide range of colours and can match or create custom colours to suit your branding or design requirements. Non-standard colours will attract an additional cost. Minimum quantities for custom colours come in a 20kg box. Which equates to approx. 160m2 or painting!

Can powder coating be repaired?

We can touch up minor chips or scratches with paint, but it won’t match the durability of a full powder coat. If coating damage or rust appears, professional recoating is the best option, though because most powder coats last up to 20 years, this typically isn’t an issue.

Deburring and Edge FAQs

Why is deburring important?

Removing burrs and sharp edges makes metal components safer to handle, improves appearance, and prepares them for further processing like powder coating.

What’s the difference between manual and mechanical deburring?

Manual deburring suits irregular shapes and tight spaces, while mechanical deburring is faster and ensures uniformity across high-volume runs.

CNC Turret Punching FAQs

What does CNC turret punching do?

This machine punches holes or shapes into sheet metal using a rotating turret loaded with various punch and die combinations, all programmed via CNC.

Is CNC turret punching fast?

Yes, our automated system enables fast, repeatable processing with minimal waste, ideal for large-volume jobs with tight tolerances.

How does the machine work?

The sheet metal is secured on a worktable while the turret selects the correct punch and die set. Hydraulic or pneumatic force drives the punch through the metal, creating holes. The die holds the sheet in place, and the process produces both finished parts and scrap for recycling or disposal.

Fastener Insertion FAQs

What are self-clinching fasteners?

These include nuts, studs, and inserts that are hydraulically pressed into sheet metal, providing strong, secure mounting points.

What are they used for?

Self-clinching fasteners like nuts, studs, and inserts are used to securely attach screws or bolts to sheet metal. They grip the metal tightly, creating strong, reusable threads.

What are the benefits of CNC-controlled insertion?

CNC fastener insertion offers speed, accuracy, and consistent results. This makes it perfect for large-scale, high-precision sheet metal assemblies.

Need More Help?

Whether you’re planning your next custom project or need help with a specific fabrication challenge, we’re here to lend a hand. Our Brisbane-based team delivers on quality, turnaround, and precision every time. Contact us today.

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