Small Sheet Metal Bending Parts in Steel and Aluminum
These are small bent sheet metal parts such as L-brackets, U-channels, mounting tabs, clips and cable holders. Blanks are laser cut or stamped from steel, stainless steel, galvanized steel, aluminum, copper or brass sheet, then bent on CNC press brakes. Small orders are welcome. They suit appliance, automotive and equipment makers needing custom brackets without large tooling costs.
- Material
- Carbon Steel
- Tolerance
- to ±0.005 mm
- MOQ
- 1 piece
- Prototype lead time
- 3–7 days
- Small orders welcome, no tooling for laser blanks
- Flange length and hole-to-bend checked in review
- Galvanized, stainless, aluminum, copper or brass
- Tumble deburring rounds sharp edges
Item ref. 1601055485073 ·
| Process | Laser cutting, stamping, CNC press-brake bending, tumbling |
|---|---|
| Materials | Carbon steel, galvanized steel, stainless steel 304, aluminum 5052, copper, brass |
| Tolerance | ±0.05 mm on machined features; bend tolerances per drawing |
| Surface Finish | Zinc plating, powder coating, anodizing, nickel plating |
| Typical Parts | L-brackets, U-channels, clips, tabs, straps |
| MOQ | 1 piece; prototypes through mid-volume |
| Drawing Formats | STEP, IGES, X_T, STL, DWG, DXF, PDF |
| Lead Time | Prototypes typically 3–7 working days; production 10–20 |
| Inspection | First-article, in-process and CMM checks; reports on request |
Manufacturing
How we make this part
Process, material options and inspection for small sheet metal bending parts in steel and aluminum.
Small parts are often harder to bend than large ones because there is little flange for the press brake to hold. We check minimum flange length during design review, roughly three to four times the material thickness plus the bend radius, and suggest changes if a flange is too short. Holes near bends are also checked, since they can distort if placed too close to the bend line.
Galvanized steel is cost-effective and pre-protected against rust, though cut edges are exposed. 304 stainless needs no coating. 5052 aluminum bends cleanly for light brackets. Copper and brass are used for grounding straps and conductive clips, where electrical conductivity matters more than strength. Finishes include zinc plating, powder coating, anodizing and nickel plating.
Bend angles, flange lengths and hole positions are measured against the drawing on the first article and spot-checked through the run. Small parts are deburred by tumbling, which also rounds sharp edges. Typical products include appliance mounting brackets, automotive harness clips, building hardware tabs, grounding straps and small enclosure parts.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
What is the shortest flange you can bend on a small part?
As a rule of thumb, the minimum flange is about three to four times the material thickness, plus the inside bend radius. For 1 mm steel that is roughly 4–5 mm. Shorter flanges may need special tooling or a different design, which we discuss during review.
Can holes be placed close to a bend line?
Holes too close to a bend can stretch into ovals. Keep holes at least about two times the material thickness plus the bend radius away from the bend line. If they must be closer, we can pierce after bending or add a relief cut.
How do I get a quote for small sheet metal bending parts in steel and aluminum?
Send a 3D model (STEP or IGES) and a 2D drawing with tolerances, material, finish and quantity through the quote form or by email. An engineer replies within 24 hours on business days with price, lead time and any DFM suggestions.
Request a quote
Quote this part
Attach drawings or send several parts at once from the full quote form.
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