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sheet metal thickness

Question asked by Josh Hershberger on Dec 23, 2008
Latest reply on Jan 8, 2009 by Roland Schwarz

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I haven't had much experience using sheet metal, but we are making a print for a sheet metal part. What kind of tolerance should we put on the print regarding the thickness of the part.

Wayne Tiffany Dec 23, 2008 11:50 AM

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As a general rule, we don't tolerance the thickness of sheet metal parts. The sheet metal industry will produce in a range, and material in different batches will vary a bit. So you might consider not tolerancing unless it's a critical parameter, and then if so, you will probably have to special order to make sure you get what you need.

WT

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Josh Brady Dec 23, 2008 11:33 AM
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Whatever you can accept for the finished part.
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- Josh Hershberger @ Josh Brady on Dec 23, 2008 11:39 AM
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  That was brilliant...
  
  I'm asking if there is some sort of standard regarding sheet metal gauge thicknesses.
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  - Wayne Tiffany @ Josh Hershberger on Dec 23, 2008 11:50 AM
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    As a general rule, we don't tolerance the thickness of sheet metal parts. The sheet metal industry will produce in a range, and material in different batches will vary a bit. So you might consider not tolerancing unless it's a critical parameter, and then if so, you will probably have to special order to make sure you get what you need.
    
    WT
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    - Josh Hershberger @ Wayne Tiffany on Dec 23, 2008 11:52 AM
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      Thank you, that was the definitive answer I was looking for.
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      - Roland Schwarz @ Josh Hershberger on Dec 23, 2008 12:57 PM
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        At one employer (a stamping house), the tolerancewas ±.004 for standard grade and ±.002 for high grade sheet steel.
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        1-70W0UV @ Roland Schwarz on Dec 23, 2008 1:09 PM
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        Roland Schwarz wrote:
        
        At one employer (a stamping house), the tolerancewas ±.004 for standard grade and ±.002 for high grade sheet steel.
        
        That definately wasn't regular hot rolled sheet from a coil .
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        Carter West @ 1-70W0UV on Dec 23, 2008 11:25 PM
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        Hey Josh. I would need to ask a question to best answer that question.
        
        Is the sheet metal part HVAC (heating, ventilation, air conditioning), or is it what has come to called 'precision' sheetmetal?
        
        I ask because in most HVAC applications thickness is not so important, and given the fact that most of that metal is pre treated. Galvanized for example.
        
        If it's precision sheetmetal, then the tolerance can found in here :
        http://www.precisionsheetmetal.com/home/materials.htm
        
        One thing to keep in mind when specifying precision drawings, fit, and intent is that you don't want to load up too many tolerances. Higher tolerance = higher fabrication cost. It's good practice to relax dimensions that aren't so important, and tighten up the ones that will make a difference at assembly.
        
        Merry Holidays
        
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        Josh Hershberger @ Carter West on Dec 24, 2008 10:56 PM
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        Carter, it is a "precision" part and not HVAC. However, it is not that precision, that is why I was just wondering what a "rule of thumb" was for thickness tolerance...just so it was left out in the open or "unless otherwise specified". The answers you guys have given me have been very helpful and thanks for the link to the sheetmetal site.
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Ben Heath Jan 7, 2009 10:44 PM
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I agree with what Wayne said early on-Sheet metal varies sheet to sheet! I deal with sheet metal on a daily basis, both on the computer and in the shop. If you require a precise material thickness, you may need to special order, or have a thicker sheet machined.
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- Roland Schwarz @ Ben Heath on Jan 8, 2009 1:19 PM
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  We found that sheet rolls tended to vary through the length of the sheet, thinner in the middle and thicker at the ends.
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