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Sheet metal drawing notes

By Fred Vierheller, senior mechanical engineer, Certified SOLIDWORKS Professional · Updated November 4, 2026

12 copy-ready notes for sheet metal, in English and Spanish. Copy a note, replace the [bracketed] example values, and check the "Watch for" line before you release the drawing.

Values in [brackets] are examples; replace them with your own. Notes marked Verify values rely on common practice; confirm them with your supplier or design engineer. These notes are examples, not an engineering approval of your drawing.

SHM-01 Material and thicknessSHM-02 Inside bend radiusSHM-03 Bend angle toleranceSHM-04 Flat patternSHM-05 Formed dimensionsSHM-06 Self-clinching hardwareSHM-07 Grain directionSHM-08 Burr sideSHM-09 Cut feature toleranceSHM-10 Bend reliefSHM-11 Finish (sheet metal)SHM-12 Surface condition

SHM-01

Material and thickness

Checked
EN
MATERIAL: [5052-H32 ALUMINUM SHEET PER ASTM B209], [.063] THK.
ES
MATERIAL: [LÁMINA DE ALUMINIO 5052-H32 SEGÚN ASTM B209], [.063] DE ESPESOR.

Use: every sheet metal part. Steel examples: CRS PER ASTM A1008, CS TYPE B; GALVANIZED PER ASTM A653, G90.

Watch for: thickness only as a gauge number ("16 GA") — gauge means different thicknesses for steel and aluminum.

Basis: ASTM B209, A1008, A653. checked

SHM-02

Inside bend radius

Verify values
EN
INSIDE BEND RADII R[.030] UNLESS NOTED.
ES
RADIOS INTERIORES DE DOBLEZ R[.030] A MENOS QUE SE INDIQUE.

Use: every bent part. Match a radius the shop's tooling has.

Watch for: "USE MINIMUM BEND RADII" — can't be inspected. Tight radii crack hard tempers (6061-T6).

Basis: convention. verify

SHM-03

Bend angle tolerance

Verify values
EN
BEND ANGLES ±[1]°.
ES
ÁNGULOS DE DOBLEZ ±[1]°.

Use: when the general angular tolerance is tighter than press-brake work can hold.

Basis: convention; typical press-brake capability. verify

SHM-04

Flat pattern

Verify values
EN
FLAT PATTERN FOR REFERENCE ONLY. SUPPLIER MAY ADJUST FOR BEND ALLOWANCE.
ES
DESARROLLO SÓLO COMO REFERENCIA. EL PROVEEDOR PUEDE AJUSTAR SEGÚN SU TOLERANCIA DE DOBLEZ.

Use: every bent part with a flat pattern view.

Watch for: toleranced flat-pattern dimensions — they force the shop to match your CAD K-factor. The formed part is what's inspected.

Basis: convention. verify

SHM-05

Formed dimensions

Verify values
EN
FORMED DIMENSIONS ARE TO [OUTSIDE] OF MATERIAL UNLESS NOTED.
ES
LAS DIMENSIONES DEL FORMADO SON AL [EXTERIOR] DEL MATERIAL A MENOS QUE SE INDIQUE.

Use: when dimension lines on flanges could be read to either side.

Basis: convention. verify

SHM-06

Self-clinching hardware

Verify values
EN
INSTALL [PEM S-632-1] (QTY [4]) ON SIDE MARKED [△9], PER MANUFACTURER'S INSTALLATION SPECIFICATION. INSTALL AFTER FINISH.
ES
INSTALAR [PEM S-632-1] (CANT. [4]) DEL LADO MARCADO [△9], SEGÚN LA ESPECIFICACIÓN DEL FABRICANTE. INSTALAR DESPUÉS DEL ACABADO.

Use: every part with PEM nuts, studs or standoffs. List each part number.

Watch for: "INSTALL CLINCH HARDWARE PER MANUFACTURER'S RECOMMENDATIONS" with no part numbers or side; hole sizes that don't match the hardware.

Basis: PennEngineering installation data. verify (part numbers are examples)

SHM-07

Grain direction

Verify values
EN
GRAIN DIRECTION AS SHOWN. (arrow on the flat pattern)
ES
DIRECCIÓN DEL GRANO COMO SE INDICA.

Use: tight bends in hard tempers or spring steel.

Basis: convention. verify

SHM-08

Burr side

Verify values
EN
BURR SIDE [AWAY FROM SURFACE △10].
ES
REBABA DEL LADO [OPUESTO A LA SUPERFICIE △10].

Use: punched or laser-cut parts that contact hands, wires or seals.

Basis: convention. verify

SHM-09

Cut feature tolerance

Verify values
EN
LASER / PUNCHED FEATURES ±[.005] UNLESS NOTED.
ES
CARACTERÍSTICAS CORTADAS POR LÁSER O PUNZONADO ±[.005] A MENOS QUE SE INDIQUE.

Use: flat-cut features (holes, slots) when the general tolerance is too loose or too tight.

Basis: convention; typical laser capability. verify

SHM-10

Bend relief

Verify values
EN
BEND RELIEFS [.06] WIDE X [.06] PAST BEND, UNLESS SHOWN.
ES
ALIVIOS DE DOBLEZ DE [.06] DE ANCHO X [.06] MÁS ALLÁ DEL DOBLEZ, A MENOS QUE SE MUESTRE.

Use: bends that end at an edge.

Basis: convention. verify

SHM-11

Finish (sheet metal)

Verify values
EN
FINISH: POWDER COAT, [RAL 9005 BLACK], [TEXTURE], [2–4] MILS. MASK [GROUNDING POINTS △11].
ES
ACABADO: PINTURA EN POLVO [RAL 9005 NEGRO], [TEXTURA], [2–4] MILS. ENMASCARAR [PUNTOS DE TIERRA △11].

Use: enclosures and brackets. Chem film for aluminum: see GEN-14.

Watch for: "PAINT BLACK" with no color standard or thickness; hardware holes painted closed.

Basis: convention. verify

SHM-12

Surface condition

Verify values
EN
SURFACES MARKED [△12] ARE COSMETIC: NO SCRATCHES, DENTS OR TOOL MARKS VISIBLE AT [18] IN.
ES
LAS SUPERFICIES MARCADAS [△12] SON COSMÉTICAS: SIN RAYONES, GOLPES NI MARCAS DE HERRAMIENTA VISIBLES A [18] PULG.

Use: visible panels.

Watch for: "SURFACE FINISH TO BE PER SHEET STOCK" on a visible panel.

Basis: convention. verify

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