Precision engineered, built in-house, shipped worldwide

Robotics and drone sheet metal: stiffness per gram

Typical robotics and drone parts we manufacture

• AGV/AMR chassis plates and battery trays
• Robot arm covers and cable-management shells
• Drone frames and motor mounts
• Control cabinet plates and mounting plates
• Sensor brackets and shields

01Ribs before gauge

Adding material thickness everywhere is the expensive answer. A rib in the load direction, or a flange that turns a flat plate into a section, usually achieves the stiffness target at lower mass and lower cost. We run that comparison during the DFM review.

02Cable paths are metal features

Moving joints need cable clearance through the full range of motion. Radiused edges, clip features and formed channels in the cover keep harnesses away from pinch points — details that are much easier to form than to add as plastic parts later.

03Resonance shows up in service, not on the bench

A cover panel that is quiet at standstill can act as a drum at operating speed. Light stiffening, contact damping or a change in panel span resolves it — and it is worth asking about the operating speeds before the design is frozen.

Material and finish choices for robotics structures

Aluminium 5052 and 6061 for weight-critical plates and frames; SPCC/SGCC where the part is internal or cost-driven; 304 stainless for cleanroom or washdown variants. Anodising for abrasion and electrical isolation, powder coat where colour coding or branding applies, and conductive finishes where shielding or earthing is required.

Quality records robotics buyers ask for

Dimensional reports against the datum, mass verification (many customers weigh parts as an incoming check), flatness on mounting faces, and material certificates. Batch traceability matters for field service: a bracket supplied three years later must match the fleet it is being fitted to.