Sheet Metal Industries
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Sheet Metal Workers perform many jobs, including making, installing and maintain heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning duct systems. Most people don't realize exactly how many products and services are produced by Sheet Metal Workers. These workers create essentials such as roofs, siding, rain gutters, downspouts, skylights, restaurant equipment, outdoor signs, railroad cars, tailgates, customized precision equipment, and many other products made from metal sheets. Sheet Metal work includes working with fiberglass and plastic materials. Although some workers specialize in fabrication, installation, or maintenance, most do multiple if not all aspects as they learn experience and training. Sheet metal workers do both construction-related work and mass production of sheet metal products in manufacturing.
The term "sheet metal" refers to any metal that can be formed into flat pieces of varying thicknesses. Using specialized tools, sheet metal workers cut, roll, bend, and shape these pieces to make a wide variety of objects such as
- Ductwork
- Airplane wings
- Car bodies
- Refrigeration units
- Medical tables and storage units
- Building facades
- Steel sheets
- Tubing
- Signs
Metals used in the sheet metal industry include:
- Cold rolled steel: Steel that is flattened and shaped by high-pressure rollers in a steel mill.
- Mild steel: A low-strength steel containing low levels of carbon that can be easily shaped into a variety of objects.
- Tin
- Nickel
- Titanium
- Aluminum
- Brass
- Copper
Sheet metal workers first study plans and specifications to determine the kind and quantity of materials they will need. They measure, cut, bend, shape, and fasten pieces of sheet metal to make ductwork, countertops, and other custom products. Sheet metal workers program and operate computerized metalworking equipment. They cut, drill, and form parts with computer-controlled saws, lasers, shears, and presses.
