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Metal Cutting & Forming

Comprehensive sheet metal fabrication, prototyping and finishing services
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Trusted by Industry Leaders
Parasoleil
Teradyne
Intel
Applied Materials (AMAT)
Safran
“We were really struggling to find anyone who could cut a certain type of heavy-duty glass. Everyone told us it couldn’t be done, so when we reached out to Fathom, we expected to hear the same thing. Instead, a few days later, they called back with a plan. They had tracked down the people who actually developed that glass and worked directly with them to figure out a solution. That’s the type of approach we have come to know from our Fathom team.”
Lead Engineer
Defense Contractor
“Fathom has been a strong partner on our EV programs. They helped us optimize a few key components for weight and manufacturability, and they consistently hit the tolerances we need. Their fast turnaround times have kept our development cycles moving, which is critical in EV work.”
Senior Manufacturing Engineer
EV Systems Supplier
“For the sheet metal components in our semiconductor tools, we need parts that are accurate, flat, and consistent across every run and Fathom has delivered that every time. Their responsiveness has made a noticeable difference in our development cycles.”
Senior Mechanical Engineer
Major Semicon Manufacturer
“With their response time, quotes and communications, Fathom is highly regarded because they are always upfront. They say what they do and do what they say.”
John Doe
Consumer Technology Company
“When I need reliable, accurate flat parts, Newcut is my first choice of suppliers. Their commitment to quality is top notch. With fast turnaround times on parts and even faster times on quotes, my projects are never behind. I can spend the time saved by Newcut’s quick response on developing and delivering the best product to our customers.”
Derek H. / New Product Development Manager
Leading international contract manufacturer
“The broad range of manufacturing services provided by Fathom all under one roof combined with their deep technical expertise is unique. By leveraging the company’s on-demand platform, we sourced from one proven supplier that made the overall process seamless. Their flexible solutions paved the way so that we could iterate more efficiently and speed our time to market, a big advantage for us. Fathom executes at a very high level, and we intend to partner with the company on other projects going forward.”
Manufacturing Engineer
VSi Parylene
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How Does Metal Cutting & Forming Work?

01 Cutting

Sheet metal projects begin with a flat sheet of metal. Using lasers or water jet cutting, it is cut to form a “blank” that contains the shape of the part and any holes or other features its design requires.

Incodema_LaserCutting
02 Forming

The blank is formed into the required shape using press brakes. These tools hold the sheet stationary while a blade presses it into a die to bend the metal in precise ways. Formed parts created in this way include contacts, brackets and device enclosures.

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03 Assembly & Finishing

Often, formed parts require additional processing before they’re complete. These steps may include grinding, welding and painting. Often, formed metal components are part of a larger assembly or product.

Incodema_Welding

Explore Fathom’s Full Range of Manufacturing Equipment

Download our complete machine list for a detailed look at our capabilities across CNC machining, additive, molding, and fabrication.

Download Machine List
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Real Customers. Real Results.

Fathom customers love our hands-on approach to engineering and production. This personalized approach is reflected in these Metal Cutting & Forming case studies.

VSi Parylene

How did Fathom help condense this manufacturer’s product development cycle by 50%? Read this case study to learn how we did it.

Learn More

Metal Cutting & Forming FAQs

Do you have questions about metal cutting and forming? Get answers to many common questions here.

Q.
Why is it an advantage to work with a contract manufacturer that offers many types of cutting solutions?

A.

Fathom supports laser cutting, water jet cutting, micro water jet cutting, wire EDM, plunger EDM and photo chemical etching. Each technology has its own unique strengths and weaknesses. Our broad range of cutting solutions enable us to tailor our solutions to your precise needs.

Q.
Can metal cutting and forming be used to refine the design of prototype parts?

A.

Yes. Our locations that work with sheet metal fabrication have experienced

Q.
What are the dangers of using multiple shops for sheet metal fabrication and finishing?

A.

Using multiple vendors for sheet metal production and finishing exposes your company to risks, including communication issues, unexpected delays, cost overruns and quality problems. Consolidating these services with one supplier can help you streamline production, eliminate unnecessary costs and improve your part quality.

Q.
What factors should I keep in mind when designing parts for sheet metal fabrication?

A.

Sheet metal fabrication requires special considerations when designing features like ribs, gussets, embosses and bends. Techniques for ensuring successful designs of these features are spelled out in Fathom’s Designing for Sheet Metal Parts Guide, which you can download here.

Why Our Customers Trust Fathom

Human-First Engineering
Our expert engineers will help you optimize your part designs for production.
Decades of Expertise
Our engineering and production teams bring decades of expertise and problem-solving to every project.
Integrated Manufacturing & Finishing
We offer manufacturing and full post-processing capabilities under one roof for one point of accountability.
Full Product Life-Cycle Support
We’re your partner from design and prototyping to bridge and full production.

Fathom is Your Product Lifecycle Partner

From early concepts and prototypes to bridge and low-volume production, we’ve got you covered.

Early Concept

We’ll perform a Design for Manufacturability (DFM) analysis to help you optimize your part design for production. Our expert engineers will also identify opportunities for cost reduction in part design, tooling and the proposed production process. Our ultimate goal? To eliminate potential production problems early in your design process.

Rapid Prototyping

Quickly iterate and finalize part designs using our on-demand manufacturing services. Rapid prototyping services employ digital manufacturing methods. They enable designs to move directly from a CAD drawing to a finished plastic or metal part in a matter of hours or days – without the need for tooling. Rapid prototyping can help you bring products to market faster.

Bridge Production

Bridge production can help you solve a number of common problems, including side-stepping tooling delays, meeting regulatory requirements and conducting market research if you’re unsure of demand for your new product. Producing a small quantity of parts enables you to preview a new product to a select audience and make tweaks before you ramp up to full production.

Small-Medium Volume Production

Many third-party manufacturers prefer to avoid low-volume production in favor of long production runs of relatively simple geometries. We specialize in low-volume/high-mix projects. We’re very good at it! Bridge production also makes sense when you’re moving tooling from overseas to domestic production, so you can keep your production line running smoothly.

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Kick Off Your Project Today

Expect More From Contract Manufacturing

It’s time to level up your expectations. Contract manufacturing should be much more than an automated quote and superficial DFM feedback. Experience the Fathom white-glove difference – an engineering and expertise-driven process that will guide you from concept to production with clarity, confidence, and zero guesswork.

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