Concept Sheet metal tolerances

[ccamacho]

Hi!!

First of all congrats for this awesome forum.

I will like to ask a simple yet important question.

I'm designing a case enclosure and some parts of the sheet metal are bent i.e. the front with the laterals of the case (next image)

Now, in the solidworks design I have the parts together with no space between them "0mm" (red lateral with gray front).

The question is:

Is there any recomended tolerance when designing those parts that needs to fit together? I want them to fit correctly and show no gap between the parts.

My idea is after finishing the design create a thread for discussing about it.

Thanks!

 

[ccamacho]

This is an incredibly useful thread: https://smallformfactor.net/forum/threads/stx160-0-the-most-powerful-atx-unit-in-the-world.934/

 

[|||]

You will either need to know from the tools you are working with or want to talk with shop working on this as to what the K-factor for the bends is (or are, if multiple tools need to be used). At that point, you just manufacture as close to spec as reasonable and things should line up pretty well; in a robust design, there won't be features that need super precise alignment, making it very expensive to manufacture.