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Sheet metal
Stainless steel sheet metal fabrication
Stainless steel sheet metal fabrication for enclosures, panels, brackets and welded frames that must resist corrosion without paint. Sheets up to 1500 × 3000 mm are fiber laser cut, CNC bent up to 3 m and laser welded in-house, which keeps heat tint and distortion low. Passivation, brushing and polishing are done by qualified finishing partners.
Key specs at a glance
| Grade in production | SUS304 (AISI 304, 1.4301); other grades confirmed per project |
|---|---|
| Max sheet size | 1500 × 3000 mm |
| Max thickness | 20 mm (laser cutting) |
| Bending | CNC press brakes, up to 3 m |
| Welding | Laser welding in-house |
| Largest cabinet | 3000 mm tall × 1500 mm wide |
| Finishing | Passivation, brushing (No.4/HL), polishing via partners |
Typical stainless steel parts
- Enclosures and control boxes for humid, wash-down or outdoor locations
- Equipment housings, covers and guards for automation and inspection machines
- Welded frames and brackets that must not rust or shed paint
- Flat panels, front plates and mounting plates with laser-cut openings
- Stainless parts that ship together with matching stamped parts or springs
Which stainless grade should you specify?
SUS304 is the grade we run most and the default for indoor and general outdoor use. The table compares the grades buyers most often ask about; properties are typical published values, not guaranteed minimums.
| Grade (JIS / AISI / EN) | Type | Typical use | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| SUS304 / 304 / 1.4301 | Austenitic Cr-Ni | General enclosures, frames, food and lab equipment | Good formability and weldability; non-magnetic when annealed |
| SUS316 / 316 / 1.4401 | Austenitic Cr-Ni-Mo | Coastal, chloride or chemical exposure | Better pitting resistance than 304; higher material cost |
| SUS430 / 430 / 1.4016 | Ferritic Cr | Indoor decorative panels, appliance parts | Magnetic, lower cost, weaker corrosion resistance and weldability |
How stainless differs from mild steel on the press brake
Austenitic stainless work-hardens and springs back more than SPCC, so bend angles are over-bent and checked on first pieces. A minimum inside radius of about 1 × t is a sound rule of thumb for SUS304; tighter radii are possible on thin sheet but raise the risk of cracking across the grain.
Visible faces are usually supplied with protective film. We cut and bend with the film on where possible; mark the cosmetic side on your drawing so it stays protected.
Why laser welding suits stainless steel
Laser welding puts a narrow, concentrated heat input into the joint. On thin stainless that means less warping and a smaller heat-tinted zone than TIG welding, so less grinding and straightening afterwards. See our laser welding page for joint design.
Any heat tint that remains reduces corrosion resistance at the weld. If the part goes into a corrosive environment, specify pickling and passivation, for example to ASTM A967 or A380, and we arrange it with a finishing partner.
Surface finish options
| Finish | Description | Where it is done |
|---|---|---|
| 2B | Mill finish, smooth matte gray | As supplied |
| BA | Bright annealed, reflective | As supplied |
| No.4 | Directional brushed finish | Sheet as supplied or brushed by partner |
| HL (hairline) | Long continuous brushed lines | Sheet as supplied or brushed by partner |
| Passivated | Chemical treatment restoring the passive layer | Finishing partner |
What to send for a stainless fabrication quote
- STEP model and PDF drawing with general tolerances (JIS B 0408 or ISO 2768)
- Grade, thickness and surface finish, and which faces are cosmetic
- Weld locations and whether welds must be ground flush
- Passivation or other finishing requirements
- Quantity per batch and per year
Frequently asked questions
Do you fabricate 316 stainless?
SUS304 is the grade we run routinely. 316 and 430 can be quoted; availability of the sheet is confirmed per project.
What is the thickest stainless you can cut?
Our fiber laser cuts sheet up to 20 mm thick and 1500 × 3000 mm. Bending capacity depends on thickness and bend length, so we confirm thick-plate bends per drawing.
Do you passivate stainless parts?
Passivation, pickling, brushing and polishing are done by qualified finishing partners and included in our quote and inspection.
Can you remove weld discoloration?
Laser welding leaves less heat tint than TIG. Remaining tint can be removed by brushing or pickling and passivation through our partners.
What are the sample cost and lead time?
Both depend on the part and are confirmed per project in the quote.
Related pages
Sheet metal
Custom sheet metal fabrication
Custom sheet metal fabrication in Suzhou: enclosures and cabinets laser cut, bent and welded in-house. Sheet to 1500 × 3000 mm and 20 mm, bends to 3 m.
Sheet metal
Laser welding for stainless and steel parts
Low-distortion laser welding of enclosures, frames and stamped assemblies.
Materials
SUS304 stainless steel for stamping and sheet metal
Austenitic stainless for corrosion-resistant stamped parts and enclosures.
Sheet metal
Custom electrical enclosures
Control boxes, cabinets and automation-equipment housings.
Engineering guide
JIS B 0408 general tolerances for pressed metal parts
JIS B 0408 general tolerance tables for blanked and bent or drawn metal parts, grades A, B and C, and how to call them out on your drawing.