Laser cutting is almost always the first operation for a sheet metal part, and it sets the accuracy of everything that follows. A cut profile that is clean and true makes bending predictable and welding easier.
Design rules that keep parts manufacturable
- Keep hole diameters at least the sheet thickness, and avoid holes much smaller than 1 mm.
- Leave at least one material thickness between a hole and an edge.
- Keep features at least 1.5× thickness plus bend radius away from a bend line.
- Add a relief notch where two bends meet, so the corner does not tear.
- Mark the material and thickness on the drawing — it changes the cut parameters and the price.
From cut blank to finished part
Cut parts move straight into bending, welding and assembly, or into finishing after deburring. Keeping the sequence in one workshop means the flat pattern, the bend allowance and the fixture are all agreed once.