Sheet Metal Fabrication Services
Fiber and CO2 laser cutting up to 20 mm, CNC bending on a 4 m press brake — prototypes in 3 working days, delivered across the EU
Microns Hub's sheet metal fabrication service covers fiber and CO2 laser cutting up to 20 mm mild steel, 10 mm stainless, and 10 mm aluminum; CNC bending on a 4 m press brake; MIG, TIG, spot, and stick welding; PEM hardware insertion; and all common fabrication finishes. Carbon steel, stainless, aluminum, galvanized, brass, and copper — all common grades. Prototypes ship in 3 working days; low- and mid-volume production in the same window. Upload a DXF for flat parts or a STEP for bent geometries and we return an instant quote.
Capabilities
- Fiber laser cutting — Up to 20 mm mild steel, 10 mm stainless, 10 mm aluminum; fast cycle times on thinner gauges.
- CO2 laser cutting — Available for non-metal substrates and specific metal grades where fiber is not optimal.
- CNC bending — 4 m press brake — Full 4 m bend length — meaningfully longer than the typical 3 m (10 ft) ceiling at North American competitors.
- Punching and nibbling — CNC turret punching for high-volume hole and cutout work; nibbling for curved cutouts.
- MIG, TIG, spot, and stick welding — All common welding methods including TIG for thin stainless and aluminum, spot for production assemblies.
- Rolling, hemming, and flanging — Forming operations for cylindrical and rolled-edge parts, safety-edged hems, and joggle flanges.
- PEM hardware insertion — Threaded studs, nuts, and standoffs press-fitted into sheet — for chassis, enclosure, and assembly work.
- Flat tolerance ±0.1 mm edge / ±0.2 mm nominal — Tight edge-to-edge tolerance on laser-cut flats; across-part nominal ±0.2 mm.
- Bend angle tolerance ±1.0° — Standard bend angle accuracy on parts under 500 mm; ±1.5° on parts over 500 mm.
- Bend dimension tolerance ±0.3 mm single / ±0.5 mm multi — Tighter than Hubs' ±0.254 mm claim on single bends, and better than SendCutSend on multi-bend dimensions.
- Surface finishes integrated — Powder coating, wet paint, anodizing (aluminum), zinc plating, passivation, bead blasting — added to the same quote.
- Complete assemblies — Multi-piece weldments, painted enclosures with inserted hardware, and full-build assemblies.
Materials
| Material | Grade | Properties | Common Uses |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mild steel | DC01 / S235 / S355 / 1008 / 1018 | Weldable, cost-effective, easily formed; requires surface treatment for corrosion resistance | Enclosures, brackets, frames, weldments |
| Galvanized steel | DX51 / A653 | Zinc-coated for outdoor corrosion resistance; standard in HVAC and construction | Outdoor enclosures, ducting, roofing, structural outdoor parts |
| Stainless steel | 304 / 304L / 316 / 316L | Corrosion-resistant, sterilizable, aesthetic; 316 for marine and chemical exposure | Food and pharma equipment, medical panels, marine hardware |
| Aluminum | 5052 / 5083 / 6082 | Lightweight, corrosion-resistant, formable; 5052 for bending-intensive parts | Enclosures, electronic housings, chassis, architectural panels |
| Brass | CW614N / C260 | Decorative, corrosion-resistant, easy to polish; used for aesthetic or electrical applications | Decorative panels, electrical components, fittings |
| Copper | C101 / C110 | High electrical and thermal conductivity; anneals during working | Heat-transfer parts, electrical bus bars, architectural accents |
| Spring steel | 1095 / AISI 301 | High elastic limit; maintains shape under repeated load | Springs, flexures, clips |
Tolerances & Specifications
| Spec | Value | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Flat / laser-cut edge tolerance | ±0.1 mm | Edge-to-edge on a single cut; beats Hubs' ±0.2 mm published floor |
| Flat / laser-cut nominal tolerance | ±0.2 mm | Across-part nominal dimension, standard on all flat parts |
| Bend angle (parts under 500 mm) | ±1.0° | Matches Protolabs and Hubs; industry-standard for CNC press brake |
| Bend angle (parts over 500 mm) | ±1.5° | Longer parts accumulate more spring-back; tighter tolerances available on manual review |
| Bend dimension (single bend) | ±0.3 mm | Tighter than most marketplace defaults |
| Bend dimension (multi-bend) | ±0.5 mm | Accumulates across bends; specify critical dimensions as reference features |
| Minimum bend radius | 1× material thickness | For ductile alloys (5052, DC01); 2× for 6082-T6 and stainless |
| Maximum bend length | 4 m | Full 4-metre press brake — longer than typical 3 m / 10 ft ceiling at US-first platforms |
| Maximum cutting thickness | 20 mm mild steel / 10 mm stainless / 10 mm aluminum | Thicker via waterjet or plasma on request |
How It Works
- Step 1: Upload CAD — DXF for flats, STEP for bent parts — DXF preferred for flat-only laser-cut parts. STEP for any bent, welded, or assembly geometry — we unfold it for you. Dimensions in millimetres; title-block notes should repeat as on-drawing callouts.
- Step 2: Instant quote or engineering review — Standard flat and single-bend parts get an instant quote. Complex weldments, multi-bend sequences, or assemblies with inserted hardware go to engineering review within the working day.
- Step 3: DFM feedback on bend reliefs and tolerances — Your assigned engineer checks bend-relief cuts, hole-to-bend distances, minimum flange lengths, and hardware clearances — and flags any risks before production starts.
- Step 4: Cutting, bending, welding, finishing — Fiber or CO2 laser cuts the flat pattern, CNC press brake forms the bends, welding and PEM insertion as specified, then finishing — all coordinated by your engineer.
- Step 5: QC and EU delivery in 3 days + transit — Dimensional inspection before dispatch. Material certificates EN 10204 3.1 available free on request. Pan-EU transit 2–4 working days.
Lead Times
| Tier | Quantity | Working Days |
|---|---|---|
| Prototype | 1–5 pieces | 3 days production + 2–4 EU transit |
| Low and mid volume | 5–5,000 pieces | 3 days production + 2–4 EU transit |
| With surface finishing | any quantity | add about 4 working days for finishing |
Applications
- Industrial enclosures and cabinets — IP-rated steel and aluminum enclosures, control cabinets, and operator panels. Powder coating and hardware insertion included.
- Machine frames and chassis — Welded steel frames for machinery, jigs, and heavy fixtures up to 4 m long.
- Brackets and structural weldments — Laser-cut steel brackets, gussets, and weldments for construction, industrial automation, and machine-building.
- Architectural metal panels — Decorative and functional panels in stainless, aluminum, and brass — laser-cut patterns with fine feature detail.
- HVAC and ducting parts — Galvanized steel ducts, plenums, and transitions rolled and welded to spec.
- Medical and pharma equipment panels — Passivated 304 and 316 stainless panels and chassis for medical and pharma applications — partners with ISO 13485 available.
- Electronics chassis and racks — Aluminum and steel 19" racks, server chassis, and EMC-shielded enclosures with PEM hardware.
Why Microns Hub
- 4-metre press brake — published and delivered — Most online fabrication platforms cap at 3 m or 10 ft, which disqualifies most European industrial enclosure and machine-frame work. Our 4 m press brake is genuinely differentiating for the EU market.
- 3-day prototype lead time across the board — Sheet metal prototypes ship in 3 working days — not 'as fast as' marketing copy, but the standard lead time we publish and hold.
- Assigned engineer catches bend-relief mistakes before production — The most common cause of failed sheet metal prototypes is missing bend reliefs or insufficient hole-to-bend distances. Our assigned engineer catches these at DFM review, saves you a remake cycle.
Frequently Asked Questions
What tolerances can you hold on sheet metal?
Flat laser-cut parts: ±0.1 mm edge-to-edge, ±0.2 mm nominal. Bend angles: ±1.0° on parts under 500 mm, ±1.5° on parts over 500 mm. Bend dimensions: ±0.3 mm on a single bend, ±0.5 mm on multi-bend parts (tolerance stacks across bends). Tighter tolerances — for example ±0.5° on a critical bend — are available on manual review; we will confirm feasibility at quote stage rather than promise what we can't consistently hit.
What's the maximum part size?
Our press brake handles bends up to 4 metres long — meaningfully longer than the typical 3-metre (10-foot) ceiling at most online fabrication platforms. Laser cutting covers up to 20 mm mild steel, 10 mm stainless, and 10 mm aluminum. For larger flats or thicker sections we can route to waterjet or plasma cutting partners on request.
What's the lead time?
Prototype and production sheet metal parts both ship in 3 working days. Adding surface finishing — powder coating, anodizing, zinc plating — adds about 4 working days. Pan-European transit is 2–4 working days on top. So a laser-cut, bent, and welded assembly with powder coat typically delivers in 9–11 working days door to door within the EU.
Do you prefer DXF or STEP files?
For a flat part that only needs laser cutting, send a 2D DXF — it's the shortest path to an instant quote. For anything bent, welded, or assembled, send a STEP file; we unfold it for cutting and you don't have to do the flat-pattern work yourself. If you have critical dimensions, surface finish callouts, or GD&T, include a PDF drawing alongside the STEP.
Can you do welding and hardware insertion?
Yes. MIG, TIG, spot, and stick welding are all standard, integrated into the same quote as your cutting and bending. PEM hardware insertion — threaded studs, nuts, standoffs — is also built in. We do complete weldments and enclosures; tell us at quote stage whether you need a loose set of parts or a fully-assembled and finished unit.
What finishes can I add to sheet metal parts?
For steel and stainless: powder coating (full RAL palette), wet paint, zinc plating, passivation, and bead blasting. For aluminum: anodizing Type II in clear or color, plus powder coating and wet paint. All finishes are added to the same quote and add about 4 working days to the lead time. Powder coat and paint are the most common production finishes for sheet metal enclosures; stainless parts are typically passivated.
What's the minimum order quantity?
None. We run single-piece prototypes and production batches through the same quote engine. Per-part pricing drops substantially with volume — a laser-cut flat at quantity 500 can cost 40–60% less per piece than a prototype, because material nesting becomes more efficient and setup is amortized.
Related Services
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CNC Machining
For parts that start from solid stock rather than flat sheet — milling, turning, and precision machining.
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Surface Finishing
Powder coating, anodizing, passivation, zinc plating — added to any sheet metal part in about 4 working days.
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Rapid Prototyping
When you need a functional sheet metal prototype in 3 days alongside 3D-printed or machined components for the same assembly.
MICRONS HUB DV Ε.Ε. · VAT: EL803129638 · GEMI: 190254227000 · Industrial Area, Street B, Number 4, 71601 Heraklion, Crete, Greece