Countersinking Guidelines
Countersinking is a vital process in sheet metal fabrication, particularly when creating components that require a smooth surface with no protruding screw heads or fasteners. This technique involves enlarging the top portion of a pre-drilled hole, creating a tapered seat that allows flat-head screws or bolts to sit flush with or beneath the surface of the sheet metal.
Countersink Sizes
82°90°100° or 120°, just upload a step file with your countersinks drawn directly in your model.Fabworks gives you the ability to upload step files with your countersinks pre-drawn. This reduces the amount of time you will spend configuring your order. When taking this approach you can pick from any diameter of countersink as long as its one of the following angles: 82° 90° 100° or 120°.
Please keep in mind that we hold a tolerance of -.000"/+.015" on all countersinks, which ensures that your bolts will sit sub flush with the surface of the sheet metal. When powder coating your parts, we recommend accounting for the ~.004" of added thickness if a sub flush fit is critical.
Configurable Countersinks
In some cases you might want to add a countersink to a preexisting model. You can use our hole operations tool to add one of the following countersinks to your parts.
| Name | Units | Hole Size | Outer Diameter |
|---|---|---|---|
| No data | |||
Hardware
Hardware insertion is the process of installing PEM nuts, studs, standoffs, and other fasteners into sheet metal parts. These components are essential for the assembly of sheet metal parts and are often used to attach other components like PCBs, panels, and other sheet metal parts.
Tapping
Tapping is a method of creating internal threads in pre-cut holes of a sheet metal piece, allowing for secure attachment of threaded components like screws or bolts.