Precision Metal Panels
Flat and formed panels with tight flatness, grained or brushed finishes and printed legends.
Front panels where flatness and finish are the product. We level after forming and check flatness on the surface plate, because a panel that rocks on a desk reads as poor quality regardless of what is inside.
2–4 weeks
10 pieces
ISO 9001:2015
Technical Specifications
| Parameter | Value | Unit |
|---|---|---|
| Flatness | 0.15 | mm / 300 mm |
| Thickness | 1.0–5.0 | mm |
| Cut tolerance | ±0.1 | mm |
| Grain direction | Controlled on request | - |
| Legend accuracy | ±0.15 | mm |
| Edge finish | Deburred / chamfered | - |
Available Materials
- Aluminium 5052
- Aluminium 6082-T6
- Stainless 304 (brushed)
- Mild steel CR4
- Anodised aluminium sheet
Typical Applications
- Instrument front panels
- Control panel fascias
- Machine covers
- Signage plates
- Rack blanking panels
Surface Finishes
- Anodise (clear / black)
- Brushed grain
- Powder coat
- Silkscreen print (outsourced)
- Laser etched legend
- Passivate
Industries Served
- Instrumentation
- Semiconductor
- Telecom & 5G
- Industrial Equipment
- Music & Audio
What drives the price of this part
Derived from the callouts on this page. Where a driver is not on the drawing, it is not on this list.
- Tolerance
- Flatness at 0.15 mm / 300 mm is the tightest callout this family carries. Tightening a callout is a process decision, not a machining decision: below the standard ±0.005 mm the work moves to grinding or jig boring, and the price moves with it.
- Part size
- Thickness at 1.0–5.0 mm decides which machine the part lands on and how many setups it needs. Size is the driver buyers most often leave out of a first enquiry, and it is the one that changes the quote fastest.
- Material
- The first material listed, Aluminium 5052-H32, rates 7/10 on our machinability scale at 60 HB. On this shop's scale a harder alloy means slower passes and more tool changes, and that is cycle time the quote has to carry.
- Order size
- Minimum order is 10 pieces, so on a first order setup and programming are spread over very few parts and they are most of the price. Repeat orders at the same quantity are cheaper without anything on the drawing changing.
See how cycle time is calculated in the machining time calculator and what else moves a price in the cost driver reference.
How these parts are inspected
Matched to the callouts above and the instruments actually on the floor.
- Coordinate measuring machine (Zeiss CONTURA G2, two machines, GR&R 8.4% on the critical feature)
- Dimensional report against the drawing, with a 100% check on critical features rather than a sample
- Certificate of conformance and the mill certificate with every shipment
The full equipment list, with counts, is on the capability page; the inspection sequence is on quality and inspection.
Questions buyers ask
- Can you keep the brushed grain consistent across a batch?
- Yes, by keeping the grain direction and the sheet supplier fixed for the batch. Change either mid-order and the panels will not match side by side.
- How is the legend applied?
- Laser etched for durability or silkscreen for colour. Etching survives cleaning solvents; silkscreen does not, which matters if the panel gets wiped down with IPA.
Related part families
Precision Chassis & Enclosures
EMI-shielded enclosures and instrument chassis, formed and welded to ±0.1 mm with gasket channels.
Laser Cut Parts
Fibre laser cut blanks and flat parts to ±0.05 mm, in steel, stainless and aluminium.
Sheet Metal Enclosures
Formed and welded enclosures with gasketed doors, cable entries and IP-rated sealing.