5 Ways to Reduce Sheet Metal Component Cost

Cost reduction starts at the drawing board. Here are 5 checks we perform on every customer drawing:

1. Relax Tolerances on Non-Critical Features

Does that clearance hole really need +/- 0.05mm? Standard open tolerances allow for cheaper tooling and faster inspection.

2. Optimize Nesting

Design your part geometry to nest tightly on the strip. Reducing scrap webbing by even 2mm can save tons of material over a year.

3. Use Standard Gauges

Instead of 1.1mm thickness (custom), try to design for 1.0mm or 1.2mm, which are standard market availability. This reduces raw material lead times.

4. Avoid Deep Draws if Possible

Deep drawing requires special material (DD grade) and multiple stations. Shallow forming is much cheaper.

5. Keep Holes and Slots Away from Edges and Bends

Holes placed too close to an edge or bend line distort during forming and need extra stations or secondary operations. As a rule of thumb, keep hole diameters at least equal to the material thickness and keep holes about 2x the thickness away from edges and bends.

We run these checks as part of every quotation for sheet metal stamping. Send your drawing and we'll point out where cost can come out.