Sheet Metal Fabrication Lead Times Explained

In sheet metal fabrication, lead times can vary greatly for similar parts. Often, the differences in lead time can come as a surprise to the buyer.

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Material Availability Matters

Standard mild steel and aluminium sheet is held in stock locally and can be cut and dispatched within 24-48 hours. Other materials such as stainless steel, grades of aluminium and non-standard thicknesses are held as stock but speciality alloys can take up to 1 week to arrive.

Complexity of the Part

For simple parts such as flat profiles with a few bends, delivery will be very quick. More complex parts with tight tolerances, many bends and intricate laser cut details will take longer to set up to program and inspect.

Finishing Adds Days

Allow 2-4 days for powder coating and longer for electroplating. If you have a tight schedule, then allow time for the finishing process before confirming a delivery date.

Send the Right Files

All sheet metal fabrication orders will be prepared and dispatched much quicker if sent with the DXF file of the drawing rather than as a PDF. For Sheet Metal Fabrication, visit https://dkmsheetmetal.co.uk. The one thing that prevents a project being completed on time is an incomplete specification or late change to a drawing.

Batch Size and Scheduling

A single part can be held until a suitable production slot becomes available, whereas larger quantities of parts can usually be scheduled immediately. Understanding your supplier’s capacity planning and associated lead times helps to establish realistic timescales for a fabrication project.

Remember, a little time invested before ordering your sheet metal parts is far more valuable than time spent trying to chase them once they are in production.