Stainless Steel Sheet Metal Fabrication Service
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About Stainless Steel Sheet Metal Fabrication
300 Series stainless steel, also known as austenitic stainless steel, is ideal for sheet metal because of its excellent formability, ductility and weldability. They have a high chromium-nickel content, which greatly improves corrosion resistance and far exceeds that of standard steel. It’s also easy to clean and perfect for food processing.
Stainless steel is widely used in sheet metal manufacturing. Its excellent corrosion resistance, mechanical properties and formability make it ideal for sheet metal applications exposed to corrosive and extreme environments, such as the Marine, aerospace and chemical industries.
Stainless Steel Sheet Metal at a Glance
| Application | Enclosures, structural components, chemical processing tanks, and fuel tanks |
| Advantages | Excellent corrosion resistance, excellent formability |
| Disadvantages | Relatively high cost, mechanical properties inferior to normal steel & duplex stainless steel |
| Minimum Lead Time | 3 days |
| Price Range | Average - High ($$-$$$) |
| Standard Tolerances | +/- 1.0 degree tolerances are possible on bent features and a cutout accuracy of +/- 0.020” (0.508 mm) |
| Sheet Thickness | Maximum of 3/8” (9.525mm) and a minimum of 0.0126” (0.32 mm) |
Stainless Steel 301
301 stainless steel is a low-cost alternative to 304 stainless steel. It achieves cost savings by increasing carbon content as well as reducing chromium and nickel content. Compared with other stainless steels used for sheet metal manufacturing,301 stainless steel has poor corrosion resistance. But its application is very wide, and it can be used in the manufacture of structural components such as trains or electrical housings.
Stainless Steel 301 Properties
| Tensile Strength, Yield (MPa) | Fatigue Strength (MPa) | Elongation at Break (%) | Hardness (Brinell) | Density (g/cm^3) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 205 | 240 | 40 | 217 | 8.03 |
Stainless Steel 304
304 stainless steel is a kind of austenitic stainless steel, which has a wide range of applications. It is similar to 18-8 stainless steel but the composition is slightly different. 304 stainless steel has good corrosion resistance and formability, which is very suitable for making sheet metal parts and is widely used in food equipment, storage tanks and structural supports.
Stainless Steel 304 Properties
| Tensile Strength, Yield (MPa) | Shear Modulus (GPa) | Elongation at Break (%) | Hardness (Brinell) | Density (g/cm^3) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 215 | 77 | 70 | 123 | 8 |
Stainless Steel 316
316 stainless steel is austenitic stainless steel, which is characterized by the inclusion of molybdenum to improve corrosion resistance. 316 stainless steel is not only corrosion resistant, but also easy to form and weld. It is mainly used to manufacture components that are exposed to corrosive environments, such as chemical containers or Marine equipment.
Stainless Steel 316 Properties
| Tensile Strength, Yield (MPa) | Shear Modulus (GPa) | Elongation at Break (%) | Hardness (Brinell) | Density (g/cm^3) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 290 | 74 | 50 | 217 | 8 |
Finishes
Findtop offers a wide range of surface treatments suitable for stainless steel sheet metal processing.
The standard treatment keeps the sheet metal in its original condition, and the parts after welding are pickled and passivated to ensure uniform surface properties. This is the most common stainless steel finish.
The powder coating creates a strong, smooth surface and makes up for the corrosion resistance of alloys such as 304 or 301 compared to 316.
Sandblasting creates an even matte finish and is often used for beautification purposes.
Cost-saving Design Tips
Choose the right alloy: Different stainless steel prices and properties vary, make sure to choose the right material. They differ in their ability to resist corrosion, and understand the environment before determining the material.
Follow DFM: It is important to follow sheet metal DFM principles when designing. Check out Findtop’s sheet metal design guide to learn how to leverage common sheet metal techniques to achieve the functionality you need.
In short, choose the right stainless steel alloy to ensure that its properties are in line with the environment in which it is used.