Intro
Every new automotive project comes with too many question marks to count: what materials will you use, how thick do parts need to be, and what type of drag coefficient are you aiming for? With so many considerations, it’s nice to get some help through the process. At Rapid Axis, we can help complete your automotive project faster, more affordably, and with better quality.
How is that possible? Through our cutting-edge automotive sheet metal fabrication. In this guide, our machining experts will explain why sheet metal is so great in the automotive space and how Rapid Axis can help.
Why Sheet Metal Is Perfect for Automotive Applications
Sheet metal is commonly used for the majority of modern automotive designs. Generally speaking, sheet metal is easier to work with, less expensive to manufacture, and results in faster turnarounds. In this section, we’ll look at specific reasons why sheet metal is perfect for automotive applications.
Faster Turnaround Times
Working with sheet metal is faster for a number of reasons. Firstly, it’s a lot easier to move around since sheet metal is so much lighter.
In addition, sheet metal allows for a huge number of manufacturing operations, like bending, cutting, laser cutting, and welding. With more options to choose from, the machinist can pick the fastest option without sacrificing the quality.
Finally, sheet metal is typically simpler to source and acquire, removing a lot of upfront logistics work before the machining starts.
Lower Costs
In most applications, sheet metal is less expensive than stock metals. Manufacturing raw sheets of sheet metal takes much less effort, material, and time, so the raw material costs are lower. Plus, sheet metal is quicker and easier to work with, so our manufacturing costs are lower.
The result? Lower costs for you, the consumer.
Great Flexibility for Complicated Parts
Making complicated parts out of sheet metal can be surprisingly simple and straightforward. With access to bending machines (called brakes) and plasma cutters, we can make and fold complicated parts that simply can’t be made with thicker stock material.
Need a custom fender for your new automotive project? Automotive sheet metal fabrication is the best option.
Cut Back on Waste
With any manufacturing project, you’re paying for things like the material used, the expertise required, and the time it takes us. The beauty of automotive sheet metal fabrication is that it comes with very little waste, and we can complete multiple projects with a single sheet of metal.
With less waste, you’re paying less for each project.
Get the Most Out of Every Horsepower
Sheet metal is a lot lighter than standard stock metal, but it’s still very strong. This means that you can optimize the relationship between strength and added weight. With lower-weight vehicle bodies and chassis, you can make the most out of every horsepower, since the final speed with be a relationship between the vehicle’s weight and horsepower.
Unlock New Manufacturing Methods
Sheet metal allows us to use plasma cutters, laser cutters, waterjet cutters, bending machines, and many more manufacturing methods that can’t be reliably used on thick metal. With more options to choose from, we can pick the right option that expedites the project, costs you less, and results in a higher-quality part.
Examples of Sheet Metal in the Automotive Industry
We mentioned that so many vehicles heavily rely on sheet metal fabrication. To better explain this, let’s look at specific automotive sheet metal fabrication examples:
Bodywork
In any modern car, almost all of the bodywork will be made out of sheet metal. There are some exceptions where plastic or chrome trim is used, but the vast majority is sheet metal. As an automotive designer, you already know how powerful the body of a vehicle is — it impacts performance, aerodynamics, curb appeal, and ultimately how many vehicles you sell.
As a result, it’s imperative that you pick the right material, process, and company to handle your automotive sheet metal fabrication for the bodywork.
Heat Shields
Heat shields make sure that debris and temperature don’t penetrate into sensitive areas of the vehicle, such as fluid lines or engine components. A well-made heat shield either uses thinner stock metal or sheet metal, but automotive companies are quickly realizing that using sheet metal saves time and money on each unit made.
Panels Across the Body
Looking more specifically at the bodywork of a vehicle, you’ll notice that the majority of each panel across each vehicle uses sheet metal. Everything from the hood to the fenders and quarter panels utilizes as much sheet metal as possible.
Mounts and Racks
Racks and mounts need to be customized for each vehicle type, and sheet metal makes the full design and fabrication process much simpler. Automotive sheet metal fabrication will let you make completely customized mounts for components across your new vehicle.
Chassis
Most modern chassis will use a combination of sheet metal and stock metal to create a solid foundation for the rest of the vehicle. Forming sheet metal will achieve great strength without compromising the quality of your assembly. After all, the chassis has strict requirements when it comes to load bearing and cyclic loading.
Conclusion
Using sheet metal in your next automotive project can save you a ton of time and money, and it allows for fully customized fabrication. At Rapid Axis, we specialize in automotive sheet metal fabrication, with countless projects successfully completed over the years.
We are a full-service machine shop that offers fabrication and finishing steps, with dozens of incredible equipment on our machine shop floor. With our help, you can achieve high-quality, high-throughput automotive assemblies in no time. Get a free quote today.