Guides · 5 guides
Sheet metal fabrication guides
Start hereWhat is sheet metal fabrication? A plain-English guide
How flat metal sheets are cut, bent and joined into brackets, chassis and enclosures, which materials to use, what it costs, and how to get sheet metal parts made in Shenzhen. Written for first-timers.
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01Design · 9 minDesigning a sheet-metal enclosure
Practical design rules for a first sheet-metal enclosure, explained in plain words. Bends, flanges, holes, hardware, vents, grounding and finishing, so your first quote comes back without surprises.
02Basics · 9 minWhat is anodizing? A plain-English guide
How anodizing works, why it looks and wears the way it does, the difference between Type II and hard anodizing, and how to order anodized parts in Shenzhen. Written for first-timers.
03Choosing · 8 minAnodizing vs powder coating vs painting
Three common ways to finish a part, compared in plain words. What each one is, which materials it works on, how it looks and wears, and how to choose for your product.
04Design · 7 minTolerances explained for first-timers
What "±0.05 mm" means, why tighter tolerances cost more, and how to decide which features of your part actually need them.