WHATS Metal Fabrication

From Stairways
Jump to navigation Jump to search


Metal fabrication is complicated and encompasses a wide variety of processes. Whether you desire something made as a once off, or you would like something mass produced, it's important that one to understand fabrication and the various processes that get into it.
Below can be an outline of the three main fabrication processes which are used for metal. You can find details about how these processes work and some of these primary uses. Furthermore, there is a brief description of finishing touches and protective coatings that could be put on fabricated metal products. That is a guide based on the practices of professional operators and should not be used as instructions for DIY jobs.
Cutting
Just as the name suggests, this fabrication process relies on cutting. It sounds heavy handed, yet it really is one of the most technical and accurate processes available.
The initial variant of cutting techniques may be the physical shearing or sawing of metal, generally done by large machines, but it is also possible to accomplish manually. Furthermore, it is also possible to cut metal using Oxyacetylene or plasma torches to manually cut using heat.
The aforementioned methods have their place, however the most common method of cutting metals during fabrication has been CNC machining. These machines may use manual tools, laser cutting, or water jets. The desired design is programmed in to the CNC machine and the metal is shaped by one of the aforementioned tools, in to the shape specified by the computer design. Obviously, this method is particularly ideal for intricate, or highly detailed projects.
Joining
This is one of the more commonly used ways of fabrication. Fabrication processes that fall under the broad category of 'joining' include welding, riveting or bonding with adhesives. In the event that you look around you right now, you should be able to spot a number of items constructed using these procedures.
Welding, because you can know, is joining two pieces of metal together using heat and a filler material. Riveting also joins two pieces of metal together, but with a metal rivet - no heat required. For a few items, it is also possible to use an adhesive glue to join different components. Each of these methods have their very own strengths and weaknesses, so based on the task, a fabrication plant will recommend one of these brilliant methods on the others.
Bending
Bending, because the name suggests, is really a fabrication process which involves bending metal in to the desired shape. While it is possible to get this done manually, modern machinery has largely replaced the more traditional manual bending methods. The lack of joints could make items made by bending much tougher and much more durable.
Final Touches
The final touches to any fabricated product are applied once all of the joining, cutting or welding has been completed. This may range between paint applied purely for aesthetic reasons, to protective coatings such as powder coating or sandblasting. In consultation with the manufacturer, you should be in a position to find a coating that's appropriate for your purpose and budget.
For https://www.silverlinestructures.com/cold-form/ about fabrication, or even to have something fabricated, you should contact your nearest specialist workshop. They will be able to show you through the fabrication process and come out an excellent finished product.