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Metal fabrication
is the process by which a structure is made out of metal.
Custom fabrication is the process by which a metal piece
is created to fulfill a specific need for a particular
piece based on custom specifications.
What is involved in metal fabrication?
Metal fabrication is achieved through three processes:
| 1) |
Cutting:
raw materials are cut either by blow torch, chiseling,
sawing, or shearing. Numerical control cutters
can also cut metal using tools such as mill bits,
water jets, torches, or lasers. |
| 2) |
Bending:
the metal is bent by power or manual hammers or
using press brakes. Press brakes are more commonly
used in modern metal fabricators. They are used
to coin or air-bend metal sheets into form. Modern
machines that user CNC-controlled press brakes
are incredibly accurate. |
| 3) |
Assembly:
the cut and bent pieces of metal are joined together
through riveting, welding, or binding. Sometimes
bending is also used in assembly by way if creating
a crimped seam. |
What materials and equipment
are used in the metal fabrication process?
To achieve metal fabrication, a fabrication shop will
use:
• Plate metal
• Welding wire
• Welding rod
• Casings
• Hardware
• Fittings
• Formed metal
• Expanded metal
The types of formed and expanded metal that are used
will vary depending on the project. They may include:
• Tube stock
• Square stock
• I beams, W beams,
C-channels, and other sectional metals
Do fabrication shops have particular
areas of expertise?
Many custom metal fabrication shops will have particular
types of custom metal work that they are the most learned
in. Some areas of expertise that are most common to
custom metal shops are:
• Brazing
• Casting
• Chipping
• Drawing
• Extrusion
• Forging
• Heat treatment
• Hydro forming
• Oven smoldering
• Powder coating
• Powder metallurgy
• Punching
• Shearing
• Spinning
• English wheeling
• Welding
Additional areas of expertise, which are considered
high level, include electrical, hydraulics, prototyping,
machine design, technical drawing, and sub-contract
manufacturing.
Does the fabrication shop also
design the metal pieces?
There are instances in which a metal fabrication shop
will act as the designer of a piece. In other instances,
designs by an engineer or architect will be brought
to the metal fabrication shop. In these instances, the
fabrication shop will submit a bid for fabrication services
only.
How does the fabrication process
work with regard to business?
When a company needs a fabrication shop, it will release
a call for bids. Fabrication shops will submit bids
based on engineered plans and drawings supplied by the
hiring company.
What sets one fabrication shop
apart from another?
When deciding which fabrication shop to work with, a
company will consider the turnaround time on the bid
and the budget in the bid. Other considerations include
the professional reputation of the fabrication shop,
the areas of expertise of the fabrication shop, and
the length of time that the fabrication shop has been
in operation.
Many companies prefer to go with a fabrication shop
that provides services beyond the actual fabrication.
This could include design services, consultation services,
and installation services. |
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