Part block
Custom brackets, mounts and support plates
A bracket looks like the simplest part on the drawing and is often the one that arrives bent. It is a stiffness problem before it is a machining problem, and this block is about the parts that hold something else in place.
What we make in this block
| Thickness range | 1.0 mm – 20 mm (machined plate); 0.8 mm – 6 mm (formed sheet) |
|---|---|
| Envelope | Up to 900 × 600 mm machined; 1,200 mm formed length |
| Hole position | ±0.05 mm machined; ±0.15 mm on formed parts (bend allowance dependent) |
| Flatness | 0.1 mm over 200 mm as machined; 0.05 mm if stress-relieved |
| Bend radius | 1 × thickness minimum (1.5 × for stainless) |
| Materials | Aluminium 6061 / 5052 / 5083, stainless 304 / 316, carbon steel, galvanized sheet, brass |
| Finishes | Anodizing, powder coating, zinc plating, bead blasting, passivation, chem film |
Machined vs formed — which route fits the part
| Feature | Machined from plate | Formed from sheet |
|---|---|---|
| Tolerance | ±0.05 mm | ±0.15 mm |
| Cost at 100 pcs | Higher per piece | Lower tooling, lower piece price |
| Cost at 5,000 pcs | Higher material waste | Much cheaper |
| Stiffness | Good — can add ribs | Needs gussets or flanges |
| Best for | Thick, tight, low volume | Thin, large, volume |
Processes, materials and finishes
Processes
- CNC milling
- Laser cutting
- CNC bending
- Tapping
- Deburring
- Welding (with certificate on request)
- Powder coating
Materials
- Aluminium 6061 / 5052 / 5083
- Stainless 304 / 316
- Carbon steel 1045
- Galvanized sheet
- Brass H62
Finishes
- Anodizing Type II
- Powder coating
- Zinc plating
- Bead blasting
- Passivation
- Chem film
How it is quoted
| Minimum order | 100 pieces per part number (prototype quantities from 1) |
|---|---|
| Sample lead time | 7–10 days after drawing approval |
| Production lead time | 25–35 days after sample approval |
| Quote turnaround | Within 24 hours, with DFM feedback |
Specific part pages in this block
Technical reading for this block
- Sheet metal design rules
- Bend allowance calculator
- CNC milling design rules
- Design for assembly
- Tolerance stack-up
Questions
Should a bracket be machined or formed?
Formed from sheet below about 6 mm thickness and above 500 pieces; machined from plate when the tolerance is tight, the thickness is over 6 mm, or the quantity is small enough that tooling does not pay back.
Why did my bracket arrive bent?
Usually because it was machined from plate without stress relief, so removing material released internal stress. The fix is either stress-relieved stock or a symmetrical machining sequence.
What tolerance can a formed bracket hold on hole position?
About ±0.15 mm, because the bend allowance and the material springback both move the hole. If the hole must locate something precisely, machine it after forming or use a slot.
Can you supply brackets welded and coated?
Yes. Welding is done before coating, and we can supply the assembly coated and packed. Welded brackets are quoted with the weld as a separate operation.
Send the drawing for brackets and mounts
Quotes come back within 24 hours with DFM feedback. Minimum order 100 pieces per part number; samples from one piece.