Sheet Metal Chassis
Expert sheet metal chassis solutions designed for durability, accuracy, and tailored to your specifications. From prototypes to low-volume production, our sheet metal chassis fabrication ensures high quality, rapid turnaround, and competitive pricing to support your product success.
ShincoFab Precision Sheet Metal Chassis Solutions
We specialize in end-to-end sheet metal chassis fabrication, delivering durable and dimensionally accurate enclosures tailored to your specific electro-mechanical requirements. From rapid prototyping of a single unit to low-volume and mass production runs, our streamlined process allows us to scale with your project needs. We understand that your internal components require perfect fit and protection, which is why we utilize advanced laser cutting, CNC bending, and robotic welding technologies to maintain tight tolerances across every batch.
Our expertise covers a wide range of applications, including rackmount servers, ruggedized industrial consoles, and custom electronic housings. Beyond basic fabrication, we offer a complete turnkey solution that includes hardware insertion and in-house surface finishing options like powder coating, anodizing, and plating. By integrating Design for Manufacturability (DFM) support early in the process, we help you optimize costs and ensure your metal chassis meets the highest standards of structural integrity and aesthetic quality, ready for immediate assembly upon delivery.
Materials for Sheet Metal Chassis
Selection of the right material is critical for chassis performance, influencing weight, structural durability, and electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding. At ShincoFab, we source high-grade verified metals to meet diverse industrial requirements.
Aluminum (5052/6061)
Aluminum is the top choice for lightweight chassis applications. It offers an excellent strength-to-weight ratio and natural corrosion resistance. Due to its superior heat dissipation properties, it is ideal for electronic enclosures that generate significant thermal output, helping to keep internal components cool without additional weight.
Cold Rolled Steel (CRS) & Stainless Steel (304/316)
These materials provide the ultimate structural strength. Cold Rolled Steel acts as a cost-effective standard for sturdy frames and enclosures. Meanwhile, Stainless Steel offers unmatched hygiene and corrosion resistance, making it perfect for medical devices or equipment deployed in harsh industrial environments where durability is paramount.
Galvanneal & Galvanized Steel
Selected for cost-effective, long-term rust protection, these materials are pre-coated to prevent oxidation. This makes them a reliable choice for internal chassis components, mounting plates, or large industrial cabinets that require durability on a budget without the immediate need for post-fabrication plating.
Copper & Brass Alloys
Copper and Brass are available for specialized electronics requiring high conductivity. These materials are essential for specific grounding contacts, busbars, or components that demand maximizing electrical performance and grounding efficiency within the chassis design.
Fabrication Technologies & Processes
At ShincoFab, we combine advanced automation with expert craftsmanship to deliver tailored manufacturing solutions for your metal enclosures. From precise laser cutting to final cosmetic finishing, our integrated processes ensure every chassis meets the highest standards of structural integrity and functional precision.
Precision Cutting & Metal Forming
Achieving the perfect fit starts with precision. We utilize advanced Fiber Laser Cutting systems to produce clean, burr-free blanks with exceptional edge quality, alongside CNC Turret Punching machines optimized for creating the intricate ventilation patterns and knockouts essential for thermal management. For shaping, our CNC Press Brakes allow us to handle intricate bends and complex geometries with high consistency. This specialized forming capability guarantees that every top cover, baseplate, and bracket aligns perfectly during final assembly, eliminating the need for manual rework.
Welding Fabrication & Hardware Integration
Structural rigidity is paramount for protecting sensitive internal electronics. Our fabrication process employs skilled TIG, MIG, and Spot welding techniques to create seamless, high-strength joints—critical for sealed or ruggedized enclosures. Going beyond the frame, we provide comprehensive hardware insertion services. By precisely installing fasteners such as PEM nuts, standoffs, and studs during fabrication, we deliver chassis that are fully prepped for PCB mounting, significantly reducing your downstream assembly time and labor costs.
Functional Finishing & Cosmetic Treatment
The final finish is about more than just aesthetics; it’s about durability and performance. Our in-house finishing capabilities include Powder Coating for a robust, scratch-resistant exterior and Anodizing to enhance corrosion resistance on aluminum parts. For electronics requiring rigorous electromagnetic compliance, we offer Chromate Conversion (Alodine) to maintain conductivity for EMI/RF shielding. We complete the process with high-resolution silk-screening and laser engraving for logos and port labeling, ensuring your product arrives with a professional, market-ready appearance.
Design Your Sheet Metal Chassis for Optimal Manufacturing
At ShincoFab, we understand that the most cost-effective chassis is created before the production line even starts. Optimizing your CAD design specifically for sheet metal fabrication is the best way to minimize material waste, eliminate expensive manual rework, and accelerate your time-to-market. By following these fundamental design principles, you enable our team to process your parts faster and more accurately, ensuring your final product meets both your budget and quality expectations.
Maintain Uniform Wall Thickness
Unlike machined or molded parts where variable thickness is common, sheet metal components are formed from a single flat sheet. Your design must maintain a consistent material thickness throughout the entire part. If your chassis requires varying thicknesses for structural reasons, we recommend designing separate components to be welded or fastened together during assembly.
Standardize Bend Radii
To reduce setup time and tooling costs, aim to use a consistent internal bend radius across your entire chassis design. We recommend keeping the bend radius at least equal to the material thickness (1x sheet thickness). Using a single radius allows ShincoFab operators to form multiple bends without changing specialized tooling, significantly speeding up the production process.
Place Holes and Notches Away from Bends
Features placed too close to a bend line will stretch and deform during the forming process. A general rule of thumb is to ensure the distance from the edge of a hole to the bend line is at least 2.5 to 3 times the material thickness. If a feature must be close to a bend, consider adding a bend relief notch to isolate the deformation zone.
Utilize Hems for Strength and Safety
Hems—where the metal edge is folded back onto itself—are an excellent design choice for custom chassis. They eliminate sharp raw edges for safe handling and significantly increase the rigidity of the part without adding weight. When designing hems, ensure you allow sufficient flange length to fully form the fold without interfering with internal components.
Optimize Corners for Welding
For sealed chassis or box enclosures, proper corner design is critical for a strong weld. We recommend designing with corner relief cutouts rather than perfectly sharp corners. These reliefs prevent material overlap during bending and provide a clean channel for our welders to create a flush, seamless joint that requires less post-process grinding.
Sheet Metal Chassis We Manufacture
From rugged industrial environments to sterile medical labs, ShincoFab adapts our fabrication standards to your industry’s unique demands. Explore examples of how we engineer chassis to meet diverse structural, thermal, and aesthetic requirements.
Medical Equipment Chassis
Industrial Control Chassis
Electronic Device Chassis
19" Rackmount Server Chassis
Ready to Build Your Custom Chassis?
Stop guessing about manufacturing costs. Upload your CAD files to ShincoFab today for a comprehensive quote and a Free Design for Manufacturability (DFM) review within 24 hours.
Frequently Asked Questions
Looking for answers about your fabrication project? This section covers the most common questions regarding ShincoFab’s capabilities, materials, and processes. If you don’t see your question here, feel free to reach out—our engineering team is happy to help！
What types of sheet metal chassis can ShincoFab manufacture?
We fabricate a wide range of custom chassis including 19″ rackmount server enclosures, industrial control consoles, embedded PC housings, and ruggedized medical device frames. Whether you need a simple U-shape cover or a complex multi-part assembly with internal partitions, we can build it to your specifications.
Do you offer "turnkey" assembly with hardware insertion?
Yes, this is a core part of our service. We automatedly insert fasteners such as PEM nuts, standoffs, studs, and cable tie mounts during the fabrication process. We can also perform riveting and sub-assembly of brackets, ensuring your chassis arrives ready for PCB installation.
What file formats do I need to send for a quote?
Can you handle both rapid prototyping and mass production?
Absolutely. We support the entire product lifecycle. We are set up for Quantity 1 prototypes to validate your design quickly, and we can seamlessly scale up to low-volume runs (50-500) or mass production (5,000+) using our hard tooling and automated machinery.
What is your standard lead time?
We typically provide a quote within 24 hours. For prototyping, our turnaround is usually 3–7 days. Production lead times generally range from 7 to 20 days, depending on quantity and finishing requirements. Expedited services are available for urgent project deadlines.
How do you handle EMI/RF shielding requirements?
We have extensive experience fabricating chassis for sensitive electronics. We can utilize specific materials (like Copper, Brass, or Mu-Metal) and apply conductive finishes such as Chromate Conversion (Alodine) or selective masking during powder coating to ensure proper grounding and electromagnetic interference shielding.
Do you provide Design for Manufacturability (DFM) support?
Yes. Before we cut any metal, our engineers review your design to identify potential production risks (such as hole deformation near bends or impossible weld access). We will suggest design optimizations that can reduce your manufacturing costs and improve the structural integrity of the chassis.
What surface finishes do you recommend for chassis?
It depends on the application. For indoor electronics, Powder Coating is popular for its durability and aesthetic options. For aluminum chassis needing corrosion resistance without losing conductivity, we recommend Anodizing or Alodine. We also offer Plating (Zinc, Nickel) for steel parts and Silk-Screening/Laser Engraving for labeling ports and logos.
Can you manufacture chassis with specific IP ratings (e.g., IP65/IP66)?
Yes. For outdoor or industrial applications, we can design and fabricate chassis with continuous seam welding and integrated gasket channels to meet NEMA or IP rating standards, protecting internal components from dust and water ingress.
How precise are your fabrication tolerances?
We utilize fiber laser cutting and CNC bending to maintain strict tolerances. Our standard general tolerance is +/- 0.005″ (0.13mm) for cut features and +/- 0.010″ for bent dimensions. Tighter tolerances can be achieved depending on the feature geometry—just specify your needs in your drawing.
Contact Us for Your Custom Sheet Metal Chassis Needs
Our engineering team is standing by to support your fabrication project. Whether you need an instant quote, DFM advice, or material recommendations, ShincoFab delivers the expertise you need to move fast. Upload your design files today and let’s turn your concept into a precision-engineered reality.
