The Techniques Used to Create Metal

Metal fabrication is a very complex operation that involves several processes, having as the result the building of metal structures. The main processes involved in sheet metal fabrication are cutting, bending, and assembling. Various raw materials are used for metal fabrication and the job is generally based on engineering drawings. These materials include plate metal, formed and expanded metal, such as sectional metals or tube and square stocks, castings, welding wire or rod, fittings, and hardware. Sheet metal forming is a process that has various applications across a range of industries and specialties, which makes fabrication a value-added process. These industry sectors include electrical and electronic fields, lighting, energy, architectural and construction, furniture, petrochemical, and mining, as well as the oil and gas industry, pneumatic processing, and hydraulics. Many companies operate in the field of metal fabrication these days, but it is important for production companies that need such services or products to resort to an experienced, yet modern provider, with cutting-edge equipment that can provide consistent accuracy.

As mentioned above, cutting is the first process in sheet metal fabrication and it is done through various methods. It can be performed through sawing, chiseling, or shearing, every technique having both manual and powered alternatives. Cutting can also be done through torching, in which case handheld torches are being used, whether plasma torches or oxy-fuel ones. For high precision cutting, many sheet metal forming companies use numerical control cutters, also known as CNC, which use lasers, water jet cutting machines, mill bits, or torches. Bending is the next step in metal fabrication and it has been done by hammering most of the time. However, with the advances registered by technology, most service providers these days use press brakes and other such tools. Modern fabricators use press brakes to air bend sheet metal into the form or to coin it in. The CNC-controlled press brakes are now easily and highly effectively programmed through offline programming software, which makes the entire process seamless and dynamic and to some extent, even economical.

Last, but not least, sheet metal fabrication is ended through the assembling process. This comprises different series of actions in its turn, such as welding, adhesive binding, and fastener threading or riveting. For the process of assembling, human labor and automation can be both used, although modern fabrication sections mostly use automated welding applications. Welding is usually considered the main focus of sheet metal forming, therefore special precautions are oftentimes needed in the process. Shops and companies that specialize in this section of metal work are usually called fab shops and many of them have specialty processes developed, such as casting, brazing, welding, or spinning. Higher-level specializations include technical drawing and machine design, electrical specialization and hydraulics, as well as prototyping and sun-contract manufacturing. It is important for companies that need metal fabrication services to take all these factors into account when choosing their service provider.