How To Choosing A Custom Metal Parts Processing Factory

Choosing a Custom Metal Parts Processing Factory:

Metal parts usually have strict quality requirements for products, including dimensional accuracy, performance, consistency, etc. To find a supplier with excellent quality, it is essential to understand the main materials, processing equipment, processes, and molds used for metal components.

· Common Metal Raw Materials Include:

Alloy steel, primarily composed of steel and carbon, with additions of chromium, nickel, manganese, molybdenum, tungsten, etc. Different alloy steels have varying physical properties, such as wear resistance, high toughness, high temperature resistance, and high strength. Commonly used in machinery manufacturing, construction, automobiles, oil, pipeline valves, etc.

Stainless steel, mainly composed of steel, chromium, and nickel. Common grades include SUS 304 and SUS 316. Main characteristics: corrosion resistance, non-magnetic, and good physical properties. Commonly used in architectural decoration, electrical appliances, machinery, kitchen utensils, hardware valves, fasteners, etc.

Copper alloys, primarily composed of copper, with additions of zinc, nickel, tin, aluminum, etc. Common types include copper-nickel alloys, copper-zinc alloys, and copper-tin alloys. Characteristics of copper alloys include good electrical and thermal conductivity, excellent machinability, and high recyclability. Commonly used in heat exchange equipment, precision electronic instruments, architectural hardware, valves, gears, bushings, etc.

Aluminum alloys, primarily composed of aluminum, with additions of copper, silicon, magnesium, lithium, etc. Aluminum alloys come in many varieties and have a wide range of applications. Characteristics include lightweight, good physical strength, non-toxic, good electrical and thermal conductivity, and recyclability. Additionally, aluminum alloys have good machinability, including casting, deformation processing, surface treatment, etc. Widely used in construction, chemical industry, aerospace, vehicle engines, electric power, mechanical equipment, electronic products, etc.

Zinc alloys, primarily composed of zinc, with additions of copper, aluminum, magnesium, titanium, etc. They exhibit corrosion resistance, ease of casting, weldability, and recyclability. Commonly used in decorative items, hardware tools, electrical appliances, toys, etc.

Titanium alloys, primarily composed of titanium with aluminum and vanadium additions. Characteristics include lightweight, corrosion resistance, high physical strength, and excellent machinability. Commonly used in the chemical industry, aerospace, sports equipment, medical devices, etc.

Precious metal alloys, etc.

· Metal Parts Classified by Processing Technology Typically Include:

1. Machined Metal Parts. Mainly components completed by CNC machining. Used  in automobiles, aerospace, machinery, precision instruments, electrical appliances, computers, communication equipment, transportation equipment, heat exchange equipment, chemical equipment, etc.

2. Sheet Metal Parts. Primarily completed by sheet metal equipment such as punching machines or hydraulic presses. Used  in automobiles, aerospace, machinery, precision instruments, electrical appliances, communication equipment, electronic devices, transportation equipment, etc.

3. Metal tube Parts, mainly processed by pipe bending equipment and casting equipment. Used in automobiles, aerospace, refrigeration equipment, electrical devices, chemical equipment, heat exchange equipment, fluid equipment, outdoor furniture, machinery, etc.

· Main Production Processing Technologies and Equipment for Metal Parts:

1. Processing Technology Classification of Raw Materials,

Metal profile raw materials: metal rods, sheets, tubes, strips. Depending on the product requirements, suitable materials should be selected, e.g., 1) Steel sheets and strips can be categorized into cold-rolled and hot-rolled processes. From a cost perspective, cold-rolled materials are slightly cheaper. 2) Copper alloy rods are divided into casting processes and extrusion hot-rolling processes. For products requiring high physical properties, extrusion hot-rolling should be chosen. 3) Steel pipes are categorized into rolled seamless pipes and welded pipes. For pipelines with pressure requirements, rolled seamless pipes should be selected, as welded pipes are generally less expensive than seamless pipes.

Metal casting raw materials: include ordinary casting and pressure casting, with pressure casting having a higher density to avoid defects such as air holes and sand holes.

Powder metallurgy raw materials: characterized by high precision, non-rough appearance, and good stability.

Forged raw materials: For alloy steel, if strong physical properties are needed, forged raw materials can meet this requirement. Copper alloys commonly use hot forging to enhance physical properties while also saving materials.

The quality of raw materials is crucial for products, and it is generally necessary to provide certificates of chemical composition, physical performance testing reports, such as metallographic structure testing reports, tensile strength testing reports, hardness testing reports, etc. Using raw materials produced by well-known large enterprises usually ensures relatively stable and reliable quality.

2. Machining process technology:

High-precision CNC machining, after raw materials are formed, begins with ordinary CNC lathes for preliminary processing, followed by high-precision CNC machining to refine appearance dimensions. This ensures that high-precision CNC machining has a good baseline dimension. The precision of CNC machines is the main factor in guaranteeing product dimensions and accuracy. For mass production, using robots or fully automatic production lines can improve production efficiency and maintain product consistency and reliability while reducing costs.

Sheet metal processing employs mechanical cutting or laser cutting for blanking, cutting into suitable raw materials for subsequent processing. If the subsequent process is continuous automatic processing, then the blanks are cut into suitable widths. The forming process is typically completed by punching machines, hydraulic presses, and bending machines. CNC equipment generally offers better processing precision, and during large-scale production, employing robots, combination molds, and fully automated dedicated equipment can improve production efficiency and reduce costs.

Pipe bending processing utilizes pipe bending machines or hydraulic presses to shape the pipes. CNC pipe bending machines offer relatively high precision and efficiency. Finished product quality inspection requires specialized inspection tools to check the accuracy of pipe dimensions. Pressure pipelines usually require effective gas or water pressure testing.

Specialized equipment processing, such as edge curling, rib rolling, riveting, etc., is commonly used in sheet metal processing products.

The inspection tools, equipment, and testing frequency for machining determine the stability of product quality in mass production. Factories should adhere to the regulations of quality system certification.

3. Welding Processing :

Common welding processes include TIG welding, laser welding, electron beam welding, brazing, resistance welding, and plasma arc welding. In addition to welding equipment and techniques, welding experience is also crucial. For mass production, using CNC automated welding has cost advantages while also improving product consistency and stability.

4. Metal Surface Treatment process:

Common methods for metal surface treatment include polishing, electroplating, spraying plastic, painting, oxidation, PVD coating, and nano-coating. The effects of surface treatment directly impact whether the product is aesthetically pleasing and practical. For instance, some products require ion spraying for special treatment, making them more resistant to high temperatures, wear, and corrosion. Some products require fingerprint-resistant treatment, using nano-coating to make the surface repel grease and moisture.

The above is a brief introduction to commonly used materials and production processes for custom metal parts. When selecting a custom metal parts manufacturer, it is essential to consider whether the factory has good equipment and process design capabilities for key processes and whether it has significant experience. Understanding the factory's scientific management methods for product quality is crucial. If in the product development and trial production stage, metal 3D printing technology can provide reference for the applicability of product samples, and multi-axis CNC machining can also provide sample references. 

Metechworks has been engaged in the metal processing industry for 15 years, possessing considerable experience in product materials, processing, and quality control.