DRAWLESS Blog
Technical resources for design offices and sheet metal shops. Articles, standards, calculations, field insights.
How to calculate springback in steel, stainless and aluminum bending. K-factor method, concrete examples, a practical value table for the design office.
Laser, waterjet or plasma cutting: a complete comparison for sheet metal. Precision, thickness, cost, materials. The guide to picking the right process for your part.
How to choose your sheet metal material: mild steel, stainless or aluminum. Properties, cost, corrosion, weldability, bending. A practical guide for the design office.
How a sheet metal part price is calculated: material, cutting, bending, drilling, finishing, batch size. A line-by-line breakdown to understand and optimize your quotes.
Understand ISO 2768 general tolerances in sheet metal. The tolerance classes, what mK and fH mean, and how to choose the right one without overpaying.
Nesting, the way parts are packed on the sheet, determines your scrap rate. Methods, utilization rates, practical rules to cut material waste.
DXF or STEP: the two key file formats in sheet metal. 2D versus 3D, cutting versus validation. A clear guide to using the right format at the right time.
TIG, MIG/MAG or resistance (spot) welding for sheet metal: a comparison of processes, materials, thicknesses, appearance and cost. The guide to choosing right.
Bend radii too tight, holes too close to edges, needless tolerances: the 7 most common sheet metal design mistakes and how to avoid them.
DXF, STEP, DWG, IGES: what each file format is for in sheet metal and CAD. 2D versus 3D, cutting, exchange, archiving. The guide to stop getting it wrong.
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