This processing include processes such as laser cutting, punching, bending, welding, and surface treatment of sheet metal. These components serve, for example as housings, shields, or mounting supports and are essential for the mechanical stability, cooling, and electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) of electronic products.
At TPS Elektronik, we turn flat stock, tubes, and coils into robust chassis metal, precision brackets, box sheet metal enclosures, heat-sinks, and complex assemblies. Our end-to-end EMS flow covers laser sheet metal cutting, sheet metal punching, CNC bending and forming, tube bending, welding (MIG/TIG/spot/flux/stick), finishing (including chrome plating materials), and final assembly under strict quality control.
What We Do
Cutting
- Fiber laser cutting machine for sheet metal with high accuracy and clean edges (also referred to as laser cutting machine sheet metal, metal sheet laser cutting, and sheet metal cutting laser).
- Turret punching for features like louvers and decorative punched metal sheets using a sheet metal punch and die set or a dedicated sheet metal hole puncher/sheet metal hole punch.
Forming
- CNC press brakes (sheet metal bending machine, steel sheet bender, metal sheet bender machine, sheet metal folding machine) for tight‐tolerance bends.
- Roll forming and sheet metal forming machine operations for curves and profiles.
- Tube & pipe: CNC tube bender, CNC pipe bender, industrial tube bender, automatic tube bender/automatic tube bending machine, electric tube bending machine, CNC bender/CNC benders/CNC tube benders, plus tube bending machines with tube end forming machine capability and CNC tube forming.
Welding & Joining
- TIG welding sheet metal and weld sheet metal with MIG; we also support stick weld sheet metal, flux welding sheet metal (aka welding sheet metal with flux core), sheet metal spot welder and sheet metal spot welding machine.
- Fixturing with precision jigs and welding clamps for sheet metal.
- Materials-matched filler wires and sheet metal welding rods (e.g., ER70S-6/ER4043).
Finishing & Assembly
- Bead blasting, powder coating, anodizing; selective plating using chrome plating materials where required.
- Hardware insertion, PEMs, captive nuts, and full unit build.
Materials & Supply Chain
- Ferrous vs non ferrous: low-carbon steels, grades of steel for stamping/pressing, and stainless; plus aluminum, titanium, brass sheet metal, and copper.
- Stainless vs alloy: 304/316 stainless for corrosion resistance vs alloy steels for higher strength and hardness.
- Cold rolled steel and hot rolled steel: cold-rolled for tighter tolerances and smoother finish; hot-rolled for cost-effective structural parts.
- Coiled feedstock: steel coils (a coil of steel) slit on our slitter to custom widths for efficient sheet metal pressings and continuous runs.
What are steel coils used for? High-volume laser/punch lines, press brakes, and stamping cells to reduce scrap and improve throughput.
Design-for-Manufacturing (DFM) Guidelines
- Bends: Maintain ≥ material thickness for bend radii when possible; keep hole-to-bend distance ≥ 1.5× thickness.
- Holes & features: Prefer standard punch sizes where possible; for custom perforations use laser or punch metal sheet tooling.
- Tabs & slots: Use reliefs to prevent tearing during forming.
- Machining sheet metal: Reserve milling for tight fits or tapped features; consider the metal removal rate impact on cost and lead time.
- Tubes: Provide centerline bend radii and allowable ovality; our CNC pipe bending machine/CNC tube bending machines can hold repeatable angles and rotations.
Capabilities at a Glance
- Cutting: fiber laser cut metal sheets; sheet metal laser cutting machines; CNC laser cutting machine sheet metal / CNC laser cutting sheet metal / laser cutting machine metal sheet / laser sheet metal cutting machine / metal sheet laser cutting machine.
- Punching: turret and hydraulic; sheet metal punch tool; metal sheet hole punch tools.
- Forming: press brakes, rollers, hemming; metal sheet bender tool.
- Tubes: programmable CNC tube bending machine cells with auto-loader; collaboration with top CNC tube bending machine manufacturers.
- Pressings: progressive dies for high-volume sheet metal pressings.
- Prototyping: custom metal fabrication prototype and prototyping sheet metal within the same production ecosystem.
Welding 101 — MIG vs TIG (and Flux/Stick)
We routinely answer “mig vs tig welding / tig vs mig welding / mig vs tig / tig vs mig” for sheet gauges:
| Process | Best for | Pros | Watch-outs |
|---|---|---|---|
| MIG (GMAW) | Mild steel, galvanized, many aluminums | Fast, forgiving, great for welding sheet metal with MIG welder | Control heat to avoid warping; use .6 mm/.023″ wire |
| TIG (GTAW) | Thin stainless, aluminum, precision edges | Cleanest, precise, ideal to tig weld sheet metal | Slower; requires skilled operator |
| Flux-core | Outdoor, repair | Works without gas | More spatter; welding sheet metal with flux core needs short stitches |
| Stick (SMAW) | Heavy gauges | Simple equipment | Stick weld sheet metal is not ideal for thin sheets |
We can also switch MIG to TIG on the same workstation depending on geometry and finish requirements.
Best welder for sheet metal? For most thin sheet, MIG with fine wire or TIG for cosmetic stainless/aluminum edges.
Can you weld sheet metal? Yes—use stitch/tack techniques, copper backing bars, and tight heat control.
How to MIG weld sheet metal (quick steps):
- Clean the joint; fit with welding clamps for sheet metal.
- Use .023–.030″ wire, shortest stick-out, low voltage/amps.
- Tack every 50–75 mm, then stitch-weld between tacks to limit heat.
- Flip/stagger welds; air-cool between passes.
Tolerances & Quality
- Typical laser tolerance: ±0.1–0.2 mm depending on thickness and part size.
- Bend angle tolerance: ±0.5–1.0°.
- Full first-article inspection; PPAP on request.
Typical Parts We Deliver
- Chassis metal frames, box sheet metal enclosures, brackets, busbars, heatsinks.
- Perforated guards (decorative punched metal sheets), doors, consoles.
- Manifolds and assemblies with formed tubes from our tube bender machine cells.
Material Selection FAQs
Is steel harder than titanium?
Often yes. Many grades of steel (especially hardened alloy steels) are harder than titanium. Titanium excels in strength-to-weight and corrosion resistance; steel can achieve higher surface hardness and wear resistance.
Titanium vs aluminum — which to choose?
Aluminum is lighter and less costly; titanium offers higher strength, heat resistance, and bi-/corrosion performance. For thin housings, aluminum often wins; for harsh environments, consider titanium.
Stainless vs alloy (steel)?
Stainless (e.g., 304/316) prioritizes corrosion resistance and clean appearance. Alloy steels target strength and wear; they may need coating or plating.
Cold rolled steel and hot rolled steel — what’s the difference?
Cold-rolled provides tighter tolerances and a better finish for precision bends; hot-rolled is economical for structural parts where finish is secondary.
What are steel coils used for?
Feeding lasers, punches, and presses at scale. We slit coils on a slitter for minimal scrap and consistent metal costing.
Is steel harder than titanium?
(Answered above, but yes—depending on the steel grade and heat treatment.)
Equipment List (Representative)
- Fiber sheet metal laser cutting equipment: multiple sheet metal laser cutting machines for mixed materials.
- High-tonnage press brakes: bending machine, electric bending machine with offline programming.
- Sheet metal cutting machine (shears), notching, deburring.
- Sheet metal machine cells for hardware insertion and sheet metal spot welder stations.
- Tube department: CNC pipe bender machine, CNC tube bending machine, CNC tube bending machines with mandrel support and automatic measurement.
Pricing & “Metal Costing”
Transparent quotes consider:
- Material (alloy/grade, thickness, coil of steel vs sheet), yield, and metal removal rate.
- Setup and cycle time (laser vs punch, number of bends, tube bending machine passes).
- Secondary ops (tapping, inserts, welding process selection, finishing like chrome plating materials).
- Volume & packaging requirements.
Request a DFM review—we routinely suggest geometry tweaks that reduce bend ops, switch to standard punches, or simplify weldments.