Materials
Aluminum vs stainless vs carbon steel — grades, tempers, and when each one wins.
Materials
What materials does WERIX work with?
WERIX works with cold-rolled steel, 304/316/201 stainless steel, 5052/6061 aluminum, copper, brass, galvanized steel, and more. See our materials library for detailed specs. Or open the 5052 aluminium guide.
Which aluminum alloy is best for bent sheet metal parts?
5052-H32 is recommended for bent parts due to its 12% elongation and 1T minimum bend radius. 6061-T6 is stronger but only has 8% elongation and requires 2T-4T radius.
Can you advise on the material before I finalise the design?
Yes. Send the drawing with the operating environment — temperature range, indoor or outdoor, corrosive exposure, weight limits and quantity. We reply with a recommended alloy and temper, the minimum bend radius it allows, and the finishing options that work with it.
Do you provide material certificates?
Yes. Mill certificates and material traceability records are issued with production orders on request. In-process inspection reports and dimensional reports are also available as part of the standard quality documentation.
What thickness range do you work with?
Typical production range is 0.3 mm to 6 mm for sheet metal fabrication, with laser cutting capable of thicker plate at reduced speed. Stamping covers thinner gauges, generally 0.2 mm to 4 mm, depending on the die and press capacity.
Which aluminum alloy should I choose for sheet metal?
5052-H32 bends best (12% elongation, 1T radius) and is the default for enclosures; 6061-T6 is stronger but needs a 2T-4T radius. 3003 is the low-cost choice for non-structural panels. See the 5052 guide and 5052 vs 6061 comparison before specifying.
What stainless steel grade is best for sheet metal?
304 is the workhorse for most enclosures and brackets; 316L adds corrosion resistance for marine, coastal or chemical exposure. 201 is a lower-cost alternative where the environment is benign. Our 304 guide and 304 vs 316 comparison cover the trade-offs.
Are mill test certificates and material traceability available?
Yes. Mill certificates and material traceability records ship with production orders on request, alongside in-process and dimensional inspection reports as part of the standard quality documentation. Tell us your quality team's documentation set and it is quoted with the part.
Do you work with copper and brass?
Yes. Copper (C11000) and brass (H62, C26000) are regularly fabricated for electrical, RF and decorative parts, with bending and welding tuned to avoid work-hardening cracks. Browse the copper and brass grade guides for grades, tempers and thickness ranges.
Aluminum or steel — which should I choose for my enclosure?
Pick aluminum (5052-H32) when weight matters: it is about one-third the density of steel, so a 2 mm enclosure weighs roughly a third less and it resists corrosion without coating. Pick steel or stainless when stiffness, cost at volume or EMI shielding matters — cold-rolled steel is the lower-cost structural choice and 304 stainless adds corrosion resistance. Aluminum typically carries a 20–40% material premium over steel at low volume. Compare grades in our 5052 guide and 304 guide.
What is the minimum bend radius for sheet metal?
A practical minimum is 1× the thickness for 5052-H32 aluminium and about 0.5× for soft cold-rolled steel, but the real limit depends on alloy, temper and grain direction — 6061-T6 needs 2–4× thickness or it cracks. State the inside radius per feature rather than a blanket note and confirm at DFM review. See the sheet metal bend radius guide and the minimum bend radius chart.
How close can a hole be to a bend or the sheet edge?
Keep a hole at least 2× the material thickness from a bend (plus the bend radius) so the form does not distort the hole, and at least 2× thickness from a free edge to avoid bulging the cut. Tighter than that needs a re-cut after forming or a different feature. Our DFM guide lists the full set of distance rules.
Cold-rolled steel or stainless steel — which should I choose?
Choose cold-rolled steel (SPCC) when stiffness and low cost at volume matter and the environment is dry or the part is coated — it is the lower-cost structural choice and takes powder coat well. Choose 304 stainless when the part sees moisture, chemicals or food contact and must resist corrosion without a coating; 316L adds corrosion resistance for marine or coastal duty. Our 304 guide and 304 vs 316 comparison lay out the trade-offs.
Galvanized steel or stainless — which for outdoor sheet metal?
Hot-dip galvanized steel is the lower-cost choice for outdoor structural parts: the zinc layer (70 µm or more) protects cut edges that paint cannot reach, and a powder topcoat extends life further. Stainless 304 or 316 is specified when the part must stay corrosion-resistant without any coating, or where appearance and cleanability matter. For coastal or chemical exposure, 316 stainless beats galvanizing. See the finishes overview and our 304 guide for the comparison.
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