PARTS IN 1-3 DAYS
Quick-Turn
Sheet Metal
Prototyping Quotes
Sheet Metal
Prototyping Quotes
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.
“We are extremely happy with the quality of parts
received as well as the level of service…Thanks!”
–Micah H., VP Product Development
“Finding Prototek by chance was like hitting
the Strategic Sourcing Easy Button.”
– Brian H., Senior Designer
“On time and to Spec. To EVERYONE involved
producing quality parts a hearty thanks.”
– Jim T., Senior Product Engineer
“Fastest quoting & delivery I’ve ever
experienced, & the parts look great!”
– John H., Lead Mechanical Engineer
Amazing companies choose PROTOTEK for high-quality parts done fast!
Licenses, certifications
and real sheet metal prototyping service
and real sheet metal prototyping service
Expertise and quality are paramount. With more than three decades of commercial sheet metal prototyping experience, 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.
Sheet Metal Prototyping Quotes – Working with PROTOTEK
Deep capabilities in commercial sheet metal and machining – design, sheet metal prototyping, 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 prototyping services & other 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
PROTOTEK's 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
Sourcing the Best Sheet Metal Prototypes in 2021
If you’ve worked with different fabrication and prototyping services, you know that they aren’t all created equally. PROTOTEK is known for our quick turnaround on sheet metal and machining parts, starting with our rapid quoting. That’s why so many engineers and designers rely on PROTOTEK as their “one-stop-shop” for all of their part needs.
Sheet Metal Materials List
| Sheet Metal Material | Grade / Alloy | Max. Sheet Material Thickness (in) | Heat Treatable | Tensile Strength (Ultimate, PSI) | Fatigue Strength (PSI) | Hardness (Brinell) | Machinability (AISI Rating) | Sheet Metal 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 | 13000 | 5000 | 23 | 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 |
Corner Construction
Corner Construction Types and Tips
Full Overlap: Typically chosen when welding is not needed. Ensure proper bend relief is being used at the intersection of the 2 bends. This corner construction is the most economical choice and should be chosen where there is no need to secure the corner of a sheet metal part.
Half Lap: A preferred choice for steel and stainless parts when welding is required. This will allow for proper weld penetration and limit the amount of heat required when welding, which in turn will help reduce distortion. Proper bend relief should be ensured for half lap construction.
Open Corner: Chosen for Aluminum parts where a full weld penetration is important. Typically there is no need for bend relief when open corner construction is chosen. Open corner construction can also be used for other materials where parts are subject to high-stress environments.
Spot Weld Flanges: Another popular choice for corner construction. This construction is not seamless like fully welded corners but can be a more economical option. Proper bend relief and alignment holes should be considered when choosing to add spot weld flanges. Alignment holes can be filled with weld and ground smooth if required.
Pop Rivet Flanges: Similar to spot welds, flanges are typically the most economical choice to secure the corners of a sheet metal part. Holes are added through the walls with flanges where pop rivets are inserted to secure the corner.
Bends
What are bends? Adding bends to a flat sheet of metal transforms that metal into a three-dimensional piece.
Design considerations
Wall Thickness
What is Wall Thickness? Wall thickness refers to the overall thickness of the metal being used to create the part. Sheet metal parts are created from a single sheet of metal. This means the part needs to maintain a uniform wall thickness.
Wall Thickness Design Considerations
Bend Relief
What is bend relief? Bend reliefs help strengthen transitions from bend to flat surface (or from bend to another bend) in sheet metal. When a bend is made close to an edge, there is the risk the material may tear. Bend reliefs are small cuts in the material perpendicular to the bend to help prevent tearing.
Bend Relief Design considerations
Slots and Holes
What are some design guidelines around slots and holes? Holes and slots generally need to follow guidelines around sizing and be placed at certain distances from edges and bends to avoid material warping and to maintain structural integrity. If hardware inserts are required, spacing should be according to manufacturer’s specifications.
Slots and Holes Design considerations
Tabs and Notches
What is notching? Notching is a metal-cutting process used on sheet metal or thin bar stock, sometimes on angle sections or tubes. A shearing or punching process is used in a press to cut vertically down and perpendicular to the surface, working from the edge of a workpiece. Sometimes the goal is merely the notch itself, but usually, this is a precursor to some other process: such as bending a corner in a sheet or joining two tubes at a tee joint, notching one to fit closely to the other.
What is the difference between a notch and a tab? Notching is a metal-cutting process in which an intrusion or cut is made on the edge of the sheet metal while a tab feature is created by adding material to the walls of the sheet metal component.
Design considerations
Hems
What is hemming? Hemming in sheet metal fabrication is when the edge of the sheet is folded back on itself or folded over another part to fasten two sheet metal parts. This may be done to improve the appearance of a part, reinforce part edges or increase the part stiffness. Hems can be open or closed.
Hem Design considerations
Countersinks
What are countersinks? Countersinking is commonly used for holes that need to accept a flat head screw or fastener when the hardware needs to be flush with the surface of the part. They can be created either using machines like a drill press or formed with punch press tooling.
Countersink Design considerations
Welding
What is 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.
Design considerations
Offsets
What is an Offset in Sheet Metal? Offsets are a double bend on a piece of sheet metal that adds a second tier to your part, typically shaped like a z.
Offset Design considerations
Common Rejected or No Bid Prototypes
Received a no-bid on your prototype? Many companies will no-bid complex-forming operations or non-standard materials because of the expertise and machining needed to be able to deliver on it cost-effectively.
What are Commonly Rejected Sheet Metal Forming and Materials? Below is an image and list of some sheet metal examples commonly rejected.
- Embossing
- Dimples
- Card Guides
- Knockouts
- Bridge Lancing
- Ground Stamping
- Progressive Ribs
- Progressive Louvers
- Custom Hinges
- Exotic Forming – can work outside machine parameters
- Forming of Polycarbonates
- Extruded Taps
- Corner Gussets
At Prototek, we handle everything above and more.
We ship parts ANYWHERE in the US
in as little as 1-3 days!
in as little as 1-3 days!
We ship parts ANYWHERE in the US in as little as 1-3 days!
We have 9 locations that cover the US
Prototek
215 Devcon Dr.
San Jose, CA 95112
Directions
Sac EDM a Prototek Company
11341 Sunrise Park Dr.
Rancho Cordova, CA 95742
Directions
Midwest Prototyping a Prototek Company
1100 W 120th Ave #100
Westminster, CO 80234
Directions
Prototek
900 Cheyenne Ave.
Grafton, WI 53024
Directions
Midwest Prototyping a Prototek Company
10949 Blackhawk Dr
Blue Mounds, WI 53517
Directions
Prototype Solutions Group a Prototek Company
1621 Indianhead Drive
Menomonie, WI 54751
Directions
Prototek
205 Pine St.
Contoocook, NH 03229
Directions
Prototek
244 Burnham Intervale Rd.
Contoocook, NH 03229
Directions
ProtoCAM A Prototek Company
6620 Grant Way
Allentown, PA 18106
Directions
Prototek Trending Topics
Sheet Metal
- Sheet Metal Fabrication
- Sheet Metal Quotes
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- Online Metal Fabrication
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- Rapid Sheet Metal Services
- Sheet Metal Prototyping
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- Sheet Metal Fab
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- Prototyping Quotes
- Waterjet Cutting
Frequently Asked Questions
What questions should I be asking a sheet metal prototyping company?
What is your current capacity?
What is your turn time?
Can you provide an NDA?
Do you quote from a solid model or drawings?
When can I expect my quote?
What materials do you work with?
What are your standard tolerances?
Do you install inserts?
Do you do tig welding?
Do you do any finishing?
Do you provide silk screening and assembly services?
Do you do design work or reverse engineering?
What are your standard radii?
What are some common reasons companies reject sheet metal prototypes?
Length or width issues
Thickness (too thin, too thick)
Material type
Tight tolerances
Special tooling or forming that requires tools or skills
The company does not have certifications to meet the requirements of the part
Machine limitations
What makes Prototek different is our ability to handle the most complex jobs – having the capability to quote most any prototyping project across processes and finishes.
How fast can Prototek respond to a quote?
In most cases, we will get back to you within 24 hrs. If all information required is not provided, we will contact you. If you require a quote much faster, please contact us and speak to one of our skilled team members.
What types of metals can be used for sheet metal forming?
Cold rolled steel, hot rolled steel, aluminum, stainless, copper, brass, beryllium, titanium, galvanized
What are common sheet metal material thickness ranges?
.005, .006, .010, .017, .020, .023, .025, .030, .032, .036, .040, .042, .048, .050, .059, .060, .063, .074, .075, .080, .090, .100, .104, .105, .134, .135, .160, .179, .188, .190, .239, .250, .312, .375, .437, .500, .625
What are minimum and maximum dimensions in inches?
We will discuss your dimension needs directly with you.
What are tolerances?
Tolerance is a limit or limits of a physical dimension, measured value, or physical property of a material or manufactured object.
What is air bending vs coining?
Air bending is a method where the material is forced into a V-die opening requiring less bend force and tonnage. You can use smaller tooling and the angle of the tool is less important. Air bending requires a little more attention as the angles will not be as consistent and require forming to a more acute angle due to spring back.
Prototek uses a press brake tool for air bending, coining, and bottoming. We can also work with designs needing three-point bending, folding, wiping, rotary bending, roll bending, elastomer bending and joggle bending.
Coining involves using enough tonnage to conform the material to the exact angle of the punch and die. Coining is used more in production where a lot of parts will be manufactured and need to hold exact tolerances and precise angle of your tooling.
What is plating?
Plating provides many benefits to products made from metal and other materials. Plating is a manufacturing process in which a thin layer of metal coats a substrate. This can be achieved through electroplating which requires an electric current or through electroless plating which is in an autocatalytic chemical process.
What is stitch welding?
Stitch welding or intermittent welding involves initiating a weld, typically indicated on a drawing, terminating the weld, and then starting again along with the joint a specified distance from the previous weld. Stitch welding can be used when air or liquid tightness (Seal) is not a requirement when structural integrity is not a concern or to control heat.
What is Prototek’s finishing process?
Prototek utilizes a multi-step process of anodizing & finishing which includes cleaning, treatment, anodizing, coloring, sealing, and numerous quality rinses in between each phase. We focus on controlling the pH, temperature, concentration, frequency, and duration. Our technicians maintain multiple controls in the tank to ensure a consistent, quality coating. As industrial craftsmen, these processes and quality phases are the art and science we take pride in delivering high-quality parts to our partners.
Prototek offers:
Powder-coating
Painting
Silk-screening
Laser engraving
Chem-film
Anodizing
Bead blasting
Tumbling
What is the range of part thickness Prototek works with?
Prototek can manufacture sheet metal parts ranging in thickness from .0.010 inches to .25 inches.
