This whitepaper outlines practical DFM guidelines Metcam engineers use when reviewing OEM drawings for laser-cut, formed, and welded sheet metal parts. It is written for mechanical designers and sourcing teams who want first-article success without sanding down every corner case on the shop floor.
Start with material and grain. Specifying alloy and thickness is not enough when formed flanges fight grain direction or when cosmetic faces need a consistent brush. Call out critical cosmetic surfaces early so nesting and forming sequences protect them.
Bend radii and reliefs drive cost more than many drawings admit. Overly tight inside radii relative to thickness invite cracking or extra forming hits. Inadequate relief at bend intersections creates tearing or secondary operations that never appeared in the original estimate.
Hardware and weld callouts should match real insertion and access. PEM locations too close to bends, welds that trap powder coating, and tolerance stacks that assume every feature is primary datum all show up as scrap or rework once volume ramps.
Use this document as a conversation starter with your fabrication partner. Bring the BOM, finish requirements, and annual volumes to a DFM review — Metcam’s engineering team can flag risk items before tools and fixtures are locked.