Process Details
1. Choose the material.
2. Choose material sheet gauge.
Sheet metal thickness is measured by the gauge. The larger the gauge, the thinner the material.
3. Choose/design a perforation pattern.
4. Perforate the sheet metal via bending, welding, punching, cutting, etc.
Sheet metals perforation is performed using two likely methods, depending on the repetitiveness, complexity and general design of the hole patterns. Simple perforations may be fabricated using a standard punching press, which is a large press containing whatever hole pattern the manufacturer requires. To achieve the desired perforation, sheet metal is simply fed through the press, which punches it. For more complex perforation designs, like decorative panels that use many non-repetitive shapes, manufacturers use a sectional XY axis punching press. This press is usually CNC controlled, thus ensuring precision and accuracy.
5. Perform any finishing processes.
Examples include: grinding, brushing, rounding, degreasing and surface polishing.