Sheet Metal Assemblies
Cut, bent, welded, hardware-installed, finished, and shipped as one finished assembly. One supplier, one PO, one part number.
What Is a Sheet Metal Assembly?
It is two or more formed metal parts joined into one finished unit, using welds, rivets, or pressed-in hardware. Think enclosures, frames, brackets, and housings that arrive ready to install.
Meco handles the whole chain, from laser cutting and CNC bending to welding, finishing, and final assembly, so tolerances are controlled across every step instead of stacking up between vendors.
Why Buyers Choose Meco
Splitting an assembly across three vendors is where cost, delay, and fit problems come from. Here is what changes when one shop owns the whole build.
Assembly Capabilities
Every step of a sheet metal build, in-house and under one quality system.
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How We Join Your Parts
The joining method drives cost, strength, and how the finished assembly looks. We pick it with you at quoting, not after.
Spot Welding
Fastest and cheapest for overlapping panels. Ideal above 0.5 mm where the joint is hidden.
TIG / MIG Welding
Full-strength continuous seams for frames, bases, and sealed enclosures.
PEM Hardware
Pressed-in nuts and standoffs give strong threads in thin sheet, with no welding heat.
Riveting
Joins dissimilar metals and coated stock without damaging the finish.
Tapping & Threading
Direct threads in thicker gauge where hardware is not needed.
Tab & Slot
Self-locating features that hold alignment during welding and cut labour cost.
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Tolerances That Actually Hold
Most assembly failures are not bad parts, they are stacked tolerances nobody budgeted for. These are the numbers we design around.
| Condition | Typical Value | Why It Matters |
|---|---|---|
| Single feature / bend | ±0.13 mm | Standard achievable accuracy on cut and formed features. |
| Across multiple bends | up to ±0.76 mm | Drift accumulates bend to bend and must be absorbed by design. |
| Gap between mating parts | 0.13 – 0.25 mm | Prevents interference and press-fit failures at assembly. |
| Powder coat build-up | 0.05 – 0.13 mm | Coated parts need the upper end of the clearance range. |
| Thin-gauge welding | under ~1.6 mm | Risk of warping or burn-through, so we shift to spot or laser welding. |
| Hardware to bend clearance | keep off the bend radius | Inserts placed too close deform the sheet and lose thread strength. |
Send your drawing and we will flag stack-up risks before cutting. Full detail in our sheet metal assembly guide.
Materials and Finishes
Common gauges in stock, with the finish applied in-house before assembly or after, whichever protects the joint best.
Sheet Materials
| Cold Rolled Steel | CRS 1008 / 1018 |
| Galvanized Steel | G60, G90 |
| Stainless Steel | 304, 316, 430 |
| Aluminum | 5052, 6061, 3003 |
| Copper & Brass | C110, C260 |
Best Used For
| Cold Rolled Steel | Painted enclosures, frames, brackets |
| Galvanized Steel | Outdoor and utility housings |
| Stainless Steel | Food, medical, marine, washdown |
| Aluminum | Weight-critical panels, heat sinks, chassis |
| Copper & Brass | Grounding, shielding, decorative trim |
| Finish | Materials | Typical Use |
|---|---|---|
| Powder Coating | Steel, Stainless, Aluminum | Durable colour on enclosures and frames |
| Anodizing | Aluminum | Corrosion and wear resistance, cosmetic |
| Zinc Plating | Steel | Low-cost corrosion protection (ASTM B633) |
| Passivation | Stainless Steel | Restores corrosion resistance after welding (ASTM A967) |
| Chromate Conversion | Aluminum | Conductive, paint-ready base (MIL-DTL-5541F) |
| Brushing & Graining | Stainless, Aluminum | Cosmetic front panels and visible surfaces |
| Silk Screen & Labeling | All finishes | Logos, legends, serial and safety marking |
Quality and Documentation
Every assembly is inspected as a finished unit, not just as loose parts. Our IATF 16949:2016 system covers incoming material, in-process checks, weld verification, and final fit.
First Article Inspection
Full dimensional report on the first assembly before production runs.
CMM & Fixture Checks
Critical features and hole patterns verified against your GD&T.
Weld Inspection
Visual and dye penetrant checks for strength and cosmetic seams.
Lot Traceability
Material and process history tracked from coil to shipped assembly.
Material Certs
Mill test reports and coating certs supplied with every shipment.
PPAP Packages
Control plans, flow diagrams, and dimensional results on request.
Fit & Function Test
Assemblies are mated, fastened, and checked before packing.
Custom Packaging
Protective, kitted, or drop-ship packaging that arrives undamaged.
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Questions People Ask
What is a sheet metal assembly?
Two or more formed metal parts joined into one finished unit by welding, riveting, or pressed-in hardware, such as an enclosure, frame, or housing.
Which materials do you use?
Cold rolled and galvanized steel, stainless 304 and 316, aluminum 5052 and 6061, plus copper and brass. We help you match material to strength, weight, and corrosion needs.
What tolerances can you hold?
Around ±0.13 mm on individual features. Across several bends the stack can reach ±0.76 mm, so we design in 0.13 to 0.25 mm of clearance between mating parts.
Do you install hardware and finish parts?
Yes. PEM inserts, rivets, and fasteners plus powder coating, plating, anodizing, and silk screen, all before the assembly ships. See our finishing services.
Can you build full products, not just metal?
Yes. We integrate plastics, electronics, and wiring into complete units through box build assembly.
Is there a minimum order?
No. We run prototype batches and scale to high volume on the same line, with no re-sourcing.
How fast is a quote?
Under 24 hours with DFM feedback included. See our pricing guide for cost drivers.
How to Get Started
Upload 2D or 3D files with material, gauge, finish, and quantity.
Price back in under 24 hours, with tolerance and cost-saving notes.
We build and inspect a first article before production starts.
Assembled, finished, documented, and shipped. Reorder any volume.
Helpful Guides
Processes & Tolerances Guide
How assemblies are built and where tolerance stack-up comes from.
Read the guide →
Which Weld Should You Use?
TIG, MIG, spot, and laser compared for thin-gauge work.
Learn more →
What Does It Cost?
What drives assembly price and how to design cost out.
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