Sheet metal is metal that has been rolled or hammered into thin, flat sheets through sheet metal fabricating. These sheets can vary in thickness, where very thin sheets are known as foil or leaf and sheets that are six or more millimeters are known as plates. All metal within the thickness range of a foil to that of plates is considered as a metal sheet.

Sheet metal thickness is measured using a unit known as a gauge. The smaller the gauge measure, the thicker the sheet. Gauge measures vary for different metals. However, in most parts of the world, sheet thickness is measured in millimeters. Sheets of metal are available as flat pieces or as coiled strips.

Sheet metal is essential in everyday applications and thus the need for sheet metal fabricating.

It is used for automobile bodies, transformers and electrical appliances/ machines, weaponry, airplane wings, roofs, operating tables (medical applications) as well as for horse tacks. Different types of metals can be rolled into sheets including copper, steel, titanium, aluminum, tin, brass and nickel. Some metals such as platinum, gold, and silver, when processed into sheets, are used for cosmetic purposes. Gold sheets and sheets are used in satellites which are out of the earth’s atmosphere due to their great reflective properties and high resistance to most elements.

Sheet metal fabricating is possible through industrial processes. Fabrication is used to form the sheets of metal for the different purposes they are needed for. Some of the techniques include shearing where metal sheets are cut into large pieces, punching where holes are made into the sheets and blanking where perimeters are cut out. The methods used to shape the sheets of metal include, folding, bending, machining and stamping. The sheets can be joined together for specific requirements using adhesives or by welding. Finally, the sheet metals are painted or powder-coated to achieve finished sheet metal products.