Contents
Essential Guide to Sheet Metal Selection for Distribution Box Fabrication
What is CNC?
Choosing the Perfect Sheet Metal for Distribution Box Fabrication
The Material of the Sheet Metal
Machineability
Sheet Metal Thickness
Cost
Popular Materials to Use for Your Distribution Box Fabrication Project
Titanium
Stainless Steel
Brass
Where to Get the Best CNC Tools for Distribution Box Fabrication
Distribution boxes are essential household appliances. It certainly would be wild to imagine a family house or a commercial space without these boxes, which contain all the electrical appliances needed to distribute electricity. Most modern distribution boxes are fabricated through a process called CNC, which stands for computer numerical control fabrication.
When fabricating distribution boxes, manufacturers have to take great care to choose the right sheet metal for their project. This guide will help to show you the factors you need to take into account as well as some general advice.
What is CNC?
CNC is a manufacturing method that uses pre-configured software to automate the control, movements, and precision of the machine tools. This automated process enables manufacturing plants to produce a massive quantity of products with a high level of precision. In manufacturing, CNC is usually used in plastic or metal production.
CNC is a modern manufacturing method that reduces waste and improves production precision substantially, making it one of the rising stars in the world of manufacturing. In fact, the CNC market in the US is projected to reach a valuation of $4,009.59 million by 2030.
Distribution boxes are also one of the most popular products to be manufactured through CNC. This is because each channel within a distribution box will have to be designed with high precision to prevent accidents as well as waste of space.
Choosing the Perfect Sheet Metal for Distribution Box Fabrication
The distribution box fabrication process starts with choosing the sheet metal for your project. As the sheet metal will be the basis for the entire project, you should always make sure to choose the correct sheet metal from the start. This will reduce any chance of errors down the line. Here are some factors to take into consideration when selecting sheet metal for your distribution box fabrication project.
The Material of the Sheet Metal
The first and foremost factor to take into consideration is the material of the sheet metal. Each type of material will have different sets of characteristics, which affect the finished products quite substantially. For example, stainless steel is a great corrosion-resistant material with amazing weldability, while aluminum might have better prices but much lower corrosion resistance. Depending on the needs and the use cases of your products, you will have to choose the appropriate material for the sheet metal.
Machineability
Machineability refers to how easy it is to work with the materials used for the sheet metal. Some materials have a much higher degree of flexibility compared to others, resulting in higher machineability. The prime example of this type of material is aluminum, arguably the most commonly used material in CNC manufacturing.
Sheet Metal Thickness
When working with sheet metal, the thickness of the sheet will also be a defining factor that will play an important role in the equation. Sheets that are too thick will take a lot of time to work on, which reduces the overall output of the production line. Conversely, sheets that are too thin might not be suitable for some products. The key here is to keep a balance between the two parameters, and you have to take your project’s requirements into account.
Cost
Naturally, the cost of the materials will also be a huge factor. If the project is not expected to yield large profit margins and the requirements are not very strict, there is no need for you to go above and beyond to find the best materials around. However, do keep in mind that your products are being used by real people, so always keep a base minimum of quality for all your distribution box fabrication projects.
Popular Materials to Use for Your Distribution Box Fabrication Project
Some materials are industry standards, which makes them easier to source and work with compared to others. Below are some great materials to consider.
Titanium
As one of the most durable and resilient materials out there, titanium is a massive giant in the industry. It boasts a light overall weight, and its strength-to-weight ratio is also excellent, making it the premier material of choice in the aircraft industry. Perhaps the few downsides this material has are its high cost as well as its poor polishing workability.
Stainless Steel
Another popular material, stainless steel boasts amazing versatility and workability. You can cut, weld, and pretty much work with this material in any way you want. Another great thing about stainless steel is that it comes in so many variants: Ferritic, Austenitic, Martensitic, and Duplex. All of these variants have their own set of characteristics, so you are never running out of options.
Brass
Brass is commonly used in the plumbing industry as well as in musical instruments due to its beautiful finish and high conductivity. It is also a highly workable material with lots of use cases, and it works like wonders with most CNC machines. Brass is also a corrosion-resistant material, and it resists saltwater as well.
Where to Get the Best CNC Tools for Distribution Box Fabrication
Aside from the sheet metal, you will have to get the best CNC tools as well as punching stamps to get your distribution box fabrication project started. KuiXing Shanghai is an industry leader in CNC, and with over 20 years of experience in the field, we offer integrated solutions to help you launch your CNC projects with ease. Contact us now for more details on how we can help you!
The most important factors when selecting sheet metal for distribution box fabrication are the materials, their machineability, the thickness, and the cost. Before you start your own production line, take these factors into account and compare them to the requirements of your project as well as your products. This will ensure that you have a steady supply of sheet metal for your project, and it helps you scale the production line with ease down the line.
Reference:
https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/us-cnc-machines-market-A13061
