Methods and Considerations for Sheet Metal Appearance Design
The material of a product directly influences its quality. It’s safe to say that more than 80% of both large and small industrial equipment are made of metal. The primary metal materials include sheet metal, stainless steel, stretched aluminum alloys, plastic, cast aluminum, etc. Among these, sheet metal is the most widely used. Here, we will briefly analyze the design methods and key considerations for sheet metal equipment.
Design Limitations Based on Sheet Metal Processing Techniques
First, the shape design of sheet metal equipment is limited by the available sheet metal processing methods. The most common methods in the market include stamping, bending, cutting, and welding. Sheet metal is the primary material used in most cases. Generally speaking, in the design of sheet metal equipment, designers focus more on unidirectional curved surfaces and rarely on bidirectional curved surfaces. This is because modeling bidirectional curves requires a stamping mold, which increases costs.
Methods and Considerations for Sheet Metal Appearance Design
Key Design Considerations for Sheet Metal
In sheet metal design, it’s essential to use standardized curved surfaces whenever possible. Bending data can be difficult to control, so cylindrical cutting and welding are often used instead. As for welding, designers should not consider it as a catch-all solution. Some designers prefer cutting beveled edges on a single curved surface and then covering it with a straight curved surface. From a design perspective, welding precision is hard to control, and this approach often looks aesthetically unappealing.
Due to material constraints during the manufacturing process, designers commonly adopt the following methods in the industrial design of sheet metal equipment:
➤Mondrian Cutting Technique: This technique is widely used in design and requires designers to have certain planar composition skills.
➤Lamination Technique: This method is often combined with the Mondrian approach. With lamination, products appear more breathable and three-dimensional.
➤Oblique Cutting and Splicing: Using angled cuts on the surface can sometimes create bold, exaggerated features in the product.
Color Matching in Sheet Metal Design
Another critical aspect for designers to consider is color coordination. In fact, the color matching of sheet metal is somewhat similar to that of medical products. Typically, a product will feature only three colors. Most sheet metal products tend to be monochromatic, with a single accent color. It’s important to note that black and white are not considered colors. For color matching, designers should avoid large blocks of color. Medical equipment typically uses low-purity and low-brightness colors, while industrial equipment follows a similar pattern. However, there are cases where lighter colors are used effectively.
Methods and Considerations for Sheet Metal Appearance Design
Special Considerations for Medical Equipment
For sheet metal equipment in the medical field, demonstrating the soft hardware features of medical devices relies heavily on sheet metal techniques. Therefore, the standards for sheet metal craftsmanship in medical devices are even higher. These include:
➤ Precision requirements for moving connectors, especially welded connectors.
➤ Surface craftsmanship of the outer frame, ensuring consistency in shaping, welding, and polishing.
➤ Surface treatment requirements, such as galvanizing or blackening for internal joints. Generally, electrostatic spraying or baking paint is used (with electrostatic spraying becoming more common). The finish must be uniform, with strong adhesion and no defects, using mainly light tones.
All of these factors must be carefully considered by designers during the actual design process of sheet metal equipment.
By understanding and applying these principles, Tecvina ensures high-quality designs that meet industry standards while providing cost-effective and aesthetically pleasing products.
