Sheet metal solutions
Parts for heavy machinery
Cut and form large plates, structural parts and machine guards. Include loading, part support and preparation for welding when comparing equipment.
Start with the parts you make
Separate the large, heavy components from the lighter guards and enclosures. They may need different machines and handling methods.
Structural sideplates
Describe the stock format, critical openings, joining edges and the position used to load and remove the plate.
Hopper and chute panels
Identify bend length, finished depth and part mass, including support through the bend and during unloading.
Mounting plates
Clarify which holes and edges are assembly-critical and whether any machining remains after cutting.
Guards and covers
Group lighter formed panels separately from thick structural work so the equipment choice reflects the actual part mix.
Connect the part to the process
Handling large components
Machine capacity and factory access must be considered together. Include the crane or loading method, staging area and finished-part removal.
Preparing for welding
Describe the edge condition and fit-up required downstream. Cutting speed alone does not establish the time needed for a completed welded assembly.
Long and heavy bends
Review forming force, bend length, tooling, daylight and component support together. Maximum length alone is not a machine selection.
Choose the equipment for each task
Choose the cutting format around the stock and critical features. Send parts that require forming to a suitable press brake, then assess preparation and fit-up for welding.
Cut large plate formats
Consider a ground-rail laser for large plate work. Review the working format, material range, cut features, loading access and space around the machine.
Explore ground-rail lasers
Form large components
Evaluate a large press brake using the actual bend plan, material strength, tooling and support needs. Review the longest and heaviest finished parts.
Explore large press brakes
Coordinate long bends
Where the part requires a tandem arrangement, check the machine pairing, synchronization, tooling and handling plan as one system.
Explore tandem press brakesThe projects below document particular laser-cutting installations. Their reported results do not establish press-brake performance or a guaranteed result for other materials and parts.
Laser cutting in heavy manufacturing
Zhekuang and Xingqiu describe specific heavy-plate projects in China, including installed equipment and the work between cutting, preparation and assembly. Compare those production conditions with your own.
