What is Sheet Metal?
Sheet metal are generally sheets less than 6 mm. Sheet metal is produced by reducing the thickness of a long workpiece by compressive forces applied through a set of rolls. This process is known as rolling and began around 1500. Sheet metal is available as flat pieces or as coiled strips.

Suitability of Materials
Most of the ductile wrought metals are suitable for sheet metal working. 

Formability ratings of materials:
 -Aluminum, copper and their alloys: Excellent
 -Mild steel and stainless steel: Fair to excellent
 -Nickel and magnesium: Fair to good

Some of the material suitable for sheet metal working are:

Finishing of Sheet metal
Sheet metals are coated with a variety of organic coatings, films and laminates to control corrosion, improve appearance and enhance durability, improve resistance to abrasion and chemicals. Some of the coatings used for sheet metal are:

Plating : Anodizing, Black oxide, Brass, Cadmium, Chromate, Chrome plating, Gold, Nickel, Electroless nickel, Phosphate, Tin and Zinc etc.

Painting : Powder coating and Spray painting.

Screen Printing : Screen printing is used for painting letters and graphics on sheet metal components.

Applications:
Sheet metal is widely used for numerous industrial and non-industrial applications including:

Aircraft: Fuselages, wings, body panels, trim parts, etc.

Automotive : Automotive body panels, bumpers, doors, chassis, trim parts, brackets etc.

Construction: Sheet metal is used for roofing, home building and structural applications.

Other applications: Sheet metal is used for manufacturing appliances, food and beverage containers, boilers, ships, kitchen equipment and office equipment etc.