PARTS IN  1-3 DAYS

QUICK-TURN
SHEET METAL
FABRICATION

We don’t have minimums, we deliver the best parts for your money, and meet your deadlines!

Every job is unique, and many require special considerations for materials, finishing, custom work, or urgent delivery – your commercial quote will be turned around by seasoned estimators who confirm all aspects of your job.

Amazing companies choose PROTOTEK for high-quality parts done fast!

Licenses, certifications
and real sheet metal fabrication service

Expertise and quality are paramount. With more than three decades of experience in commercial sheet metal fabrication, we’ve achieved a rich set of certifications and provide high-touch attention and service to every quote – and every job.

We engage with our customers to help them design better and more cost-effective parts. We want to be your one-stop shop for commercial sheet metal fabrication. Most of our business is from returning customers, and to achieve that, we strive to hit our customer’s deadlines across all project types.

ITAR Badge Prototek

sam certified

Prototek FAB 40 2020 award

Better Business Bureau Prototek

CA - ISO

NH - ISO

WI - ISO

D&B Number Prototek

AS9100 D Certified

Sheet Metal Fabrication – Working with PROTOTEK

Deep capabilities in commercial sheet metal and machining – design, sheet metal fabrication, manufacturing, finishing, and even challenging assemblies.

What do we do?

  • Sheet Metal Parts & Assemblies in 1-3 Days
  • CNC Milled and Turned Parts in 1-3 Days
  • Additive Manufactured Parts in 1 – 3 Days
  • Expedited Jobs

About our fast, flexible, personalized service:

  • ISO-9001:2015 Certified, ITAR Registered
  • Quotes within 24 Hours
  • Contact us about our expedited services

Our sheet metal fabrication capabilities start below but they don’t stop there. Want to talk to someone about a job, upload a file for quote or call us now.

QUOTES WITHIN 24HRS

We accept these file types STP, PRT, IGS, DXF, STL, and more!

PARTS & ASSEMBLIES – ONE STOP SHOP

NO ORDER TOO SMALL

EXPEDITED PARTS IN 1-3 DAYS

Why Prototek?

PROTOTEK AS SEEN ON MANUFACTURING MARVELS®

Prototek's In-house Capabilities

Sheet Metal

  • Manufacturing Design Assistance
  • Laser Cutting - Punching
  • Material Graining
  • Drilling - Countersinking - Tapping
  • Forming - Bending
  • Hardware Insertion
  • Mechanical Assembly
  • TIG, MIG, Spot Welding & Weld Grinding
  • Welded Assemblies & Frames

Machining

  • Up to 5-Axis Milling
  • Horizontal & Vertical Milling
  • 9-Axis Mill-Turn
  • Turning
  • CNC Routing
  • Surface Grinding
  • Lapping & Polishing
  • Welding / Post-Weld Machining
  • Heli-Coils / Hardware Inserts

Cutting & Engraving

  • Wire & Sinker EDM Cutting
  • Waterjet Cutting
  • CO2 Laser
  • Fiberoptic

Quality Assurance

  • Quality Engineering Assistance
  • CMM Inspection Services
  • First Article and AQL Inspections
  • Compliance and Document Control

Plastic & Composite Fabrication

  • Plastic Thermoforming - Bending
  • Annealing
  • Cryogenic Deflashing & Deburring
  • Plastic Welding
  • Thermal, Adhesive, & Mechanical Bonding
  • Vapor Polishing
  • Radiological Film-Cutting Services

Assembly

  • Manufacturing Design Assistance
  • Tooling and Fixture Fabrication
  • Electro-Mechanical Services
  • Welded, Mechanical, & Small Parts Assembly
  • Wire Harnessing
  • Laser Cutting – Polymers & Metals
  • Insert Installation

Finishing

  • Powder Coating
  • Painting
  • Chemical Agent Resistant Coating
  • Silk Screening
  • Laser Engraving
  • Chem Film
  • Anodizing
  • Black Oxide
  • Bead Blasting
  • Tumbling

Additive Manufacturing

  • Laser Sintering
  • Multi Jet Fusion
  • Stereolithography
  • Digital Light Processing
  • Fused Filament Fabrication
  • Material Jetting
  • Cast Urethane

Sheet Metal Fabrication 101

Sheet metal fabrication is the versatile process of creating several products and components from sheet metal. These products serve a multitude of industries, including but not limited to aerospace, construction, automotive, HVAC, consumer goods, robotics, electronics and energy sectors. As a result, the need for sheet metal machining is an increasingly growing industry. That’s why Prototek is here to help you with your sheet metal fabrication needs.

Sheet Metal Fabrication Services Supported

Manufacturing Design Assistance

There are many parameters we must consider with any sheet metal fabrication project. Some of the fundamental considerations include:

  • Product purpose
  • Required product strength
  • Product quantity demand
  • Industry standards

As experts in sheet metal fabrication, we can handle just about any sheet metal fabrication job. That being said, we often work with our customers to change specifications, such as the shape, size, intricacy, materials and more to ensure the design is optimal for producing the end product. That’s why we offer manufacturing design assistance.

Laser Cutting

Laser cutting gets utilized in a wide range of sectors. Laser cutting involves the process of cutting materials using a high-power density laser beam. Laser cutting is a crucial process in sheet metal fabrication as it allows for initial shaping of parts and components.

Punching

Punching is a custom sheet metal fabrication process where a scrap slug is removed from the metal workpiece each time a punch enters the punching die. As a result, the metal workpiece now has a hole.

Material Graining

Material Graining is a method of gradually smoothing down the surface of the material being machined. Material graining can be done on a wide range of metals, parts and components.

Drilling – Countersinking – Tapping

Holes for flush fastener heads can be bored or drilled. Moreover, countersunk holes can be drilled into sheet metal pieces so that the fastening head is level with the metal surface. Finally, tapping drills create threaded holes in sheet metal items so that fasteners can be screwed in and inserted.

Forming

Forming is a sheet metal fabrication technique that includes processes like bending. Whereas cutting removes material from a sheet of metal, forming reshapes it to the appropriate contours. Furthermore, bending can be accomplished with press brakes or other bending machinery.

Hardware Insertion

To ensure hardware parts are inserted appropriately and effectively, we have in-house hardware insertion services. This allows us to ensure hardware insertion work is planned ahead and integrated optimally from the start of the project.

Mechanical Assembly

Our mechanical assembly services involve a range of processes that put your final product together. Sheet metal fabrication can involve many different details processes that in the end, must come together. Our mechanical assembly services ensure your final part is completed the way it was intended.

TIG, MIG & Spot Welding

Tungsten Inert Gas (TIG) welding is a type of welding that employs a non-consumable tungsten electrode to supply electricity to the welding arc. Stainless steel components, thin gauge mild steel, and non-ferrous metals such as magnesium, copper and aluminum are common for TIG welding.

On the other hand, Metal Inert Gas (MIG) welding is an arc welding process in which a constant feed of solid wire electrode works at a fixed pace through a welding gun and into the welding pool. MIG welding gets used on various materials, including mild steel, stainless steel and aluminum.

Spot welding involves applying pressure and heat from an electric current to the weld region to join two or more metal sheets.

Welded Assemblies & Frames

As a sheet metal fabrication company, we leverage advanced production equipment and skills to fabricate assemblies and frames that integrate in-house machined parts, formed parts and welding methods.

Sheet Metal Fabrication Finishes

We leverage state-of-the-art manufacturing equipment and expert skills to offer a wide array of custom sheet metal fabrication finishing services, including the following:

  • Anodizing
  • Bead Blasting
  • Black Oxide
  • Chem Film
  • Chemical Agent Resistant Coating
  • Laser Engraving
  • Painting
  • Powder Coating
  • Silk Screening
  • Tumbling
  • Chromating
  • Zinc plating
  • Galvanizing

Our Sheet Metal Fabrication Process

Sheet metal machining involves a series of processes, including Programming, Blanking, Deburring Operations, Post-Processing, Forming and Bending, Hardware Installation, Welding and Inspecting. Here are some details around each process.

Programming

The first step in the sheet metal fabrication process is to design the product that has to get created. With a design, we can better comprehend the breadth of the fabrication necessary. Moreover, we will help prepare the final blueprints, including the sheet metal product requirements used in the manufacturing process necessary to complete your job.

Punching or Laser Cutting (aka Blanking)

Essentially, large and thin metal sheets get cut to the desired length in this stage. This is often the first stage in sheet metal fabrication as it establishes the initial shapes to form the final product.

Deburring Operations

Deburring involves the clean-up of edges or material graining. Moreover, we can also utilize laser-cutting technologies to create holes with extreme precision.

Forming and Bending

With forming and bending, the sheet metal is bent at various angles and locations often using a press brake machine. Forming and bending will change the shape of a metal sheet according to the product’s specifications.

Hardware Installation or Fastening

After the sheet metal products have been formed, it is time to weld the elements into place in a structured manner. We offer hardware installation and fastening services as part of our overall sheet metal fabrication services. This allows us to handle a larger variety of sheet metal fabrication jobs, including those where fastening and installation of hardware is necessary.

Welding

Welding in sheet metal is used to seal the edges of bent parts. Prototek offers resistance spot welding (RSW), gas metal arc welding (MIG) and gas tungsten arc welding (TIG). The type of welding will vary for each individual project.

Inspection

The final product goes through a strict assessment to ensure that it is of the best quality. We offer CMM inspection services as well as first article and AQL inspections.

Materials Available for Sheet Metal Fabrication

Sheet Metal Fabrication Material Grade / Alloy Max. Sheet 
Material Thickness (in) Heat Treatable Tensile Strength (Ultimate, PSI) Fatigue Strength (PSI) Hardness (Brinell) Machinability (AISI Rating)
Sheet Metal Fabrication Material Grade / Alloy Max. Sheet 
Material Thickness (in) Heat Treatable Tensile Strength (Ultimate, PSI) Fatigue Strength (PSI) Hardness (Brinell) Machinability (AISI Rating)
Aluminum 1100-0 0.190 No 13000 5000 23 360%
Aluminum 1100-H14 0.190 No 18000 7200 32 360%
Aluminum 2024-0 0.125 Yes 27000 13000 47 360%
Aluminum 2024-T3 0.190 Yes 63800 20000 120 360%
Aluminum 2024-T81 0.090 Yes 70300 19000 128 360%
Aluminum 3002-0 0.125 No N/A N/A N/A 360%
Aluminum 3003-0 0.800 No 16000 7300 28 360%
Aluminum 3003-H14 0.190 No 23000 8700 42 360%
Aluminum 3003-H22 0.250 No 20000 10000 37 360%
Aluminum 5005-H14 0.130 No 24000 9900 48 360%
Aluminum 5005-H34 0.130 No 23000 11000 43 360%
Aluminum 5052-H32 0.220 No 34000 17000 60 360%
Aluminum 5052-H34 0.125 No 37000 18000 68 360%
Aluminum 5083-H116 0.190 No 47000 23000 83 360%
Aluminum 5086-H116 0.190 No 44000 22000 81 360%
Aluminum 6061-0 0.190 Yes 19000 8800 33 360%
Aluminum 6061-T4 0.190 Yes 33000 14000 63 360%
Aluminum 6061-T6 0.190 Yes 45000 14000 93 360%
Aluminum 7075-0 0.190 Yes 35000 18000 59 360%
Aluminum 7075-T6 0.190 Yes 83000 23000 150 360%
Copper C11000 0.140 No 25000-29000 11000-17000 82-92 60%
Stainless Steel 301 0.125 Yes 85000-210000 31000-88000 190-440 N/A
Stainless Steel 304 0.250 Yes 84000-170000 30000-63000 170-360 40%
Stainless Steel 304L 0.250 Yes 78000-170000 25000-62000 160-350 40%
Stainless Steel 316 0.250 Yes 76000-170000 30000-63000 160-360 36%
Stainless Steel 316L 0.250 Yes 77000-170000 25000-65000 170-350 36%
Titanium 6AL-4V 0.125 Yes 131000 74000 334 22%
Titanium 6AL-4V ELI 0.125 Yes 125000 20300 326 22%
Titanium 3Al 2.5 0.171 No 89900 24700 256 N/A

Sheet Metal Fabrication Machines We Use

Here is the list of CNC machines we leverage to tackle various CNC machining projects

Machine Type Machining Method XYZ Machining Limits Precision / Repeatability (in.) Axis Brand / Description
Machine Type Machining Method XYZ Machining Limits Precision / Repeatability (in.) Axis Brand / Description
Milling Manual Vertical 36.5" X 15.75" X 16" ±0.0005 3-Axis Atrump
Milling Manual Vertical 36" X 12" X 21" ±0.0005 3-Axis Bridgeport
Milling Manual Vertical 30.25" X 12.75" X 21" ±0.0005 3-Axis Atrump
Turning Manual Lathe Chuck capacities: 8" / 10" - Spindle Bore: 2" - Max Swing: 16" Swing-over Gap: 24″ - Dist Between Centers: 40″ N/A - Acra-Turn
Turning Manual Lathe Chuck capacities: 6" / 8" - Max Swing: 13" Swing-over Gap: 18.75″ - Dist Between Centers: 40″ N/A - Atrump
3D Printing Printing 14″ X 10″ X 10″ Build Envelope ±0.0015 - Stratasys
Punch-Laser Punch & C02 Laser Cut 79" X 50" X 0.25" ±0.0027 3-axis Amada (1/2)
Punch-Laser Punch & C02 Laser Cut 79" X 50" X 0.25" ±0.0027 3-axis Amada (2/2)
Punch-Laser Punch & C02 Laser Cut 61" X 99" X 11.8" ±0.0004" / 20" 3-axis Amada
Milling Manual Vertical Z-axis (Drill Press style) operations only 3-axis Kent USA
Bending Bending 61" X 0.1345" (10 Ga.) Roll Length & Diameter: 4-3/4" (capacity based on Mild Steel) Pinch Adjustment: Standard - Birmingham
Laser Laser Cutting & Etching 24" x 18" X 8.5" ±0.0002 - Epilog
Milling Manual Vertical 26" X 15" X 4"; Knee: 12.5" Right Angle Head ±0.005 3-axis Kent USA
Turning Manual Lathe ±0.005 - Hardinge
Turning Manual Lathe ±0.005 - Enco
Laser Laser Cutting & Etching 24" x 18" X 8.5" ±0.0002 3-axis Epilog
Wire EDM Wire EDM 13.78" X 9.84" X 8.66" ±.0001 - Sodick
Milling Manual Vertical N/A ±.0005 3-axis Lagun
Turning Manual Lathe N/A ±.0005 - Hardinge
Water Jet Water Jet 52" X 26" Linear Straightness Accuracy: ±0.0021" Repeatability: 0.0014" 3-axis Flow

As the sheet metal fabrication industry increasingly scales, we continuously leverage advanced production equipment and in-house talent to offer the best custom sheet metal fabrication services in the market. Contact us today to get a quote on your sheet metal fabrication needs.

Prototek's Locations

1  |  Prototek
205 Pine St.
Contoocook, NH 03229
Directions

Prototek
244 Burnham Intervale Rd.
Contoocook, NH 03229
Directions

2  |  ProtoCAM, A Prototek Company
6620 Grant Way
Allentown, PA 18106
Directions

3  |  Midwest Prototyping, a Prototek Company
10949 Blackhawk Dr
Blue Mounds, WI 53517
Directions

4  |  Prototype Solutions Group, a Prototek Company
1621 Indianhead Drive
Menomonie, WI 54751
Directions

5  |  Midwest Prototyping, a Prototek Company
1100 W 120th Ave #100
Westminster, CO 80234
Directions

6  |  Sac EDM, a Prototek Company
11341 Sunrise Park Dr.
Rancho Cordova, CA 95742
Directions

7  |  Prototek
215 Devcon Dr.
San Jose, CA 95112
Directions

Prototek Trending Topics

Sheet Metal

CNC Machining

Additive Manufacturing

Frequently Asked Questions

Are you a broker or a manufacturer?

We are a full service sheet metal and machining manufacturer with four U.S. production facilities across the nation allowing us to deliver your high-quality parts FAST.

Does PROTOTEK manufacture in higher-volume quantities?

We focus on prototypes to low-volume production and can do larger runs. All our parts, from one – to 100 – to 1,000+ are always delivered with production-quality finish.

What are your payment terms?

PROTOTEK offers Net 30 payment terms for established customers with good credit.

What file formats are required or suggested for requesting a quote?

We accept .STP, .DWG, .IGS, .PDF, Parasolid files, and more.

What if I need help with my part design?

Our estimators are on hand to discuss your specific job needs. Our expert team can help you move your project smoothly through the design process and on to delivery.

If I do not have a CAD model, can you quote/fabricate my parts?

Yes, we can work directly from your drawings. Additional engineering charge (NRC) may apply depending on complexity.

How do I submit my NDA and other document requests?

Submit your NDA, Approved Vendor and other document requests to your sales rep or estimator.

How long is a quote valid?

Our quotes stand firm for 7 days from the date of issue.

How fast can I get my order?

Lead time for standard orders is 10 business days. Expediting options are available, including emergency service – down to as fast as 1-2 business days, depending on complexity of work and materials.