Metal fabrication is a process of building machines and structures from raw materials by cutting, burning, welding, machining, and assembly to create final products.
It includes handling railings to heavy equipment and machinery. Most of it uses sheet metal where you convert it to products or tools.
It usually consists of three phases; design, where create shop drawing using exact measurements, fabrication, which involves cutting, bending and assembling and installation, where you put together the end product or structure.
Metal fabricators can work with a variety of raw materials that include plate metal, welding wires and cast metal. They can work on machine shops or fabrication shops that focus on metal preparation for fabrication.
Forms of metal fabrication
Commercial fabrication
Essential in creating commercial products for use by consumers. Appliances and cars are both consumer products. You usually install the products in commercial venues such as stores and public places.
Industrial fabrication
You create pieces for use in other equipment. You then use equipment, in turn, to manufacture new goods such as bandsaws and iron working machines.
Structural fabrication
You do it as part of the building process in large scale projects to create metal components for use in shops and buildings.
Metal fabrication technique
Reduction process
It helps remove part of the metal to create a piece of correct size and shape.
Shearing
It reduces metal pieces of aluminum, steel or bronze to the correct size or shape. It is most suitable for a flat sheet of metal.
A stationary blade holds the metal in place, and a movable upper blade cuts through the metal from above. Blades at an angle produce diagonal cuts.
Punching
You use it to place holes in sheets or rolled metals. You put hardened metal punch above the metal and a die beneath it. The punch will produce a slug of metal within the hole, and hence it removes excess material from work surfaces.
Notching
Useful in creating detailed cuts and angles which are not possible with standard shearing processes. It removes materials from outside of a piece of metal. One or more blades are at angles to remove excess material from the metal.
Shaping process
Sometimes metals need shaping instead of cutting. There are many methods of shaping.
Stamping
You can use it when fabricating medium has a large batch of parts. You put metal between a stamp and a die to create a shallow and narrow surface. Multiple stamps or dies help shape the final piece.
Folding
Helps you create angles in sheet metal during the fabrication process.
Welding also is an essential way of joining pieces of metals. You can extend sheet metal and merge it with some different joints.
Machining plays a vital role in shaping the final product.