Aerospace & Defense
Metal Cutting & Forming
17 Nov 2025
Metal Cutting & Forming
Written by
updates@lform.com
“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
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.
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.
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.
