Metalwork
Custom sheet metal bending and light metal fabrication in stainless steel and aluminium
COOLASER, a laser workshop in Italy, in Gaeta (LT), carries out sheet metal bending and custom light metal fabrication: brackets, profiles, housings, covers and box sections in stainless steel and aluminium, with laser cutting and laser welding in the same workshop. It works for engineering workshops, the marine sector, maintenance companies and private customers. Quotes are requested online with a drawing, photos or measurements.
Sheet metal bending: what it is and what it produces
Sheet metal bending is the process that deforms a metal sheet along a straight line, using a press brake, to the desired angle. It turns a flat part, often laser-cut, into a three-dimensional part without welds on the edges:
- brackets and L-shaped angle brackets;
- U, Z and omega profiles;
- housings, covers and guards;
- box sections, boxes and enclosures;
- supports and shelf brackets.
The inside bend radius and the minimum flange length depend on material and thickness, so the drawing is checked before processing. Holes and slots are made beforehand during metal laser cutting, before bending.
Custom light metal fabrication
Custom light metal fabrication is the working of thin sheet metal and small metal parts, as opposed to heavy fabrication of beams and large structures. At the COOLASER workshop it combines laser cutting, bending and laser welding to produce brackets and supports for machines and installations, housings and guards, shelf brackets, enclosures, covers and parts for boats. On request the finished part is blasted, satin-finished or polished in the same workshop, which brings together all custom metalworking.
Custom fabrication
Custom fabrication starts from a drawing, a sketch, a photo or a sample and ends with a made-to-measure metal part, even a one-off: a spare part no longer in production, an adapter between two parts, a mount for an accessory, a component for fitting out a van or a boat. If there is no CAD drawing, it is prepared through design; if the part has to be repeated in batches, it moves on to subcontract production.
General modifications and repairs
General modifications and repairs concern existing metal parts: a bracket to lengthen or reinforce, a broken part to re-weld, a bend to correct, a part to adapt to a new assembly. Feasibility is assessed from photos or on the part. Repairs often use laser welding, which applies little heat and causes little distortion to the surrounding parts.
Materials
Bending and light metal fabrication mainly use 304 and 316 stainless steel sheet and aluminium sheet, which bend at the same thicknesses. For aluminium sheet, the alloy should be stated in the request. The material can be supplied by COOLASER, or the customer ships it to the workshop.
Sizes and limits
Sheet metal bending at the COOLASER workshop reaches up to 1220 mm in bend length and up to 1.5 mm in thickness, on both stainless steel and aluminium.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Maximum bend length | up to 1220 mm |
| Maximum bending thickness | 1.5 mm, the same for stainless steel and aluminium |
| Bend angle | up to 135° |
| Inside radius and minimum flange | checked on the drawing |
| Parts cut at the workshop | up to 610 × 610 mm; larger assemblies are built up with laser welding and assessed on request |
How it works
Sheet metal bending and light metal fabrication are ordered in four steps.
- Request: the online form is used to describe the part and attach a drawing, dimensioned sketch or photos; the lead time is also chosen: standard, urgent or by a set date.
- Check and quote: the workshop checks bends, thicknesses and the sequence of operations, then sends the quote.
- Processing: laser cutting, bending and, if needed, welding and finishing.
- Delivery: shipping throughout Italy and abroad or, on request, collection from the workshop.
What to prepare
For a bending or fabrication quote, the following are needed:
- a drawing with dimensions, angles and bend directions (DXF, DWG, STEP or PDF);
- material, thickness and quantity;
- for a modification or repair, photos of the part and of the area to modify, with a size reference;
- for a spare part, the sample, shipped to the workshop.
Without files, measurements and a description are enough; the form accepts up to 10 files, 20 MB each and 30 MB in total.
Frequently asked questions
What is the maximum sheet metal bending length?
The maximum bend length is 1220 mm, on stainless steel or aluminium sheet up to 1.5 mm thick. For longer parts, a solution in several pieces joined by laser welding can be worked out.
Can aluminium sheet be bent?
Yes, aluminium sheet is bent within the same limits as stainless steel: up to 1.5 mm thick and 1220 mm long. The aluminium alloy should be stated in the request.
Can sheet metal cut by another supplier be bent?
Yes, sheets cut elsewhere can also be bent, if material and thickness fall within the bending limits. The drawing or the bend dimensions are needed.
Can a sheet metal part be remade from a sample?
Yes, a sheet metal part can be remade from the sample: it is measured, redrawn, then cut and bent. The sample is shipped to the workshop from anywhere in Italy or from abroad, and the new part comes back by shipping.
Does the workshop repair metal parts?
Yes, general modifications and repairs on metal parts are carried out after an assessment from photos or on the part. Depending on the case, laser cutting, bending and laser welding are used.
How much does sheet metal bending cost?
The price of bending depends on material, thickness, number of bends and quantity, and is set with a quote. For cutting flat parts only, the price can also be calculated online with the online quote tool.