Introduction to Common Equipment in Metal Processing

 The diagram below illustrates the core path of a typical metal product (such as a machine part) from raw materials to finished product:

The following is a very typical and efficient metal sheet metal processing flow, which is particularly suitable for structural components such as housings that require high strength and high precision.

1laser cutting

PRODUCTS | Vinntec Cutting, Bending & Welding Equipment

Purpose: To cut a single sheet of metal (usually carbon steel, stainless steel, or aluminum) into planar parts with precise holes, grooves, and outer contours.

Process Overview:

Programming and Loading: A cutting program is generated based on CAD drawings, and the sheet metal is placed on the cutting table.

Cutting: A high-power laser beam is focused on the material surface, rapidly melting and vaporizing it. Simultaneously, an auxiliary gas (such as oxygen for carbon steel, nitrogen for stainless steel) blows away the molten slag, forming a cutting kerf.

Unloading: After cutting, the part is removed from the frame.

Key Points in this Process:

* **Leave the correct bending lines and process notches for subsequent bending to avoid interference.**

* **Design suitable joint types (such as gaps, beveling) for subsequent welding.**

* **After cutting, the cut surface will have an oxide layer (for carbon steel) or slag, which is usually removed before welding or during final processing.**

2. Shearing

PRODUCTS | Vinntec Cutting, Bending & Welding Equipment

Process Overview:

**Pre-cutting:** A shearing machine cuts large sheets into smaller pieces suitable for the laser cutting machine's working range, improving laser cutting efficiency and reducing waste. This occurs before laser cutting.

**Edge Trimming or Notching:** For simple right-angled edges or long strips, shearing is faster and cheaper than laser cutting.

**Note:** Sheared edges have burrs and slight deformation, resulting in lower precision than laser cutting. It is usually used in conjunction with the laser cutting process as a supplement.

3.Deburring and Chamfering:

PRODUCTS | Vinntec Cutting, Bending & Welding Equipment

Machine-driven high-speed rotating brush rollers (typically made of steel wire, nylon fiber, or abrasive thread) contact the edges of the workpiece. Through precisely controlled pressure and contact angle, the brush rollers utilize friction to quickly remove burrs generated by cutting or stamping, and can create uniform small rounded corners (chamfers) at the edges. Depending on the design, the brush rollers may actively rotate to process workpieces that pass in a straight line, or the workpiece may rotate itself past a fixed set of brush rollers.

4.Bending

PRODUCTS | Vinntec Cutting, Bending & Welding Equipment

Purpose: To plastically deform a two-dimensional flat sheet into a three-dimensional shape.

Process Overview:

Programming and Die Selection: Select the upper and lower bending dies according to the bending sequence and angle, and input the program into the bending machine.

Positioning: Position the laser-cut sheet against the back gauge.

Bending: The upper die (blade) moves downward, engaging with the lower die (V-groove), causing the sheet to plastically bend.

Key Points in this Process:

The bending sequence is crucial and must be scientifically planned to avoid interference with the dies or machine during subsequent bending.

After bending, the dimensions and angles of the part directly determine the accuracy and difficulty of subsequent welding and assembly. Poor bending accuracy will lead to misalignment or excessive gaps during welding.

Tensile stress will be generated at the bending edges. For some high-carbon steels or hard aluminum, stress relief treatment may be necessary after bending to prevent welding cracks.

5. Laser Welding

PRODUCTS | Vinntec Cutting, Bending & Welding Equipment

Purpose: To permanently join multiple bent components into a single unit with high speed and low deformation.

Process Overview:

Tooling and Positioning: Specialized welding fixtures are used to precisely fix the bent parts. This is the most critical step to ensure welding accuracy.

Welding: A high-energy-density laser beam irradiates the joint, rapidly melting the metal to form a molten pool. As the beam moves, the molten pool solidifies to form the weld. Shielding gases such as argon are typically used to prevent oxidation.

Core Advantages and Key Points of this Process:

Advantages: Small heat-affected zone, minimal deformation, high weld depth-to-width ratio, aesthetically pleasing, and highly automated.

Key Points: Extremely high requirements for the fit clearance between parts (typically <0.1mm), which is a crucial indicator of the bending accuracy.

Welding path and parameters (power, speed) need to be optimized to prevent burn-through or incomplete fusion.

After laser welding, the weld area will have a slightly raised, differently colored weld bead, and its heat-affected zone may be harder and more brittle than the base material.