What are metal fabrication and the 5 most common techniques used?

Metal fabrication is a word that has a broad meaning. This includes different types of processes like cutting, shaping, and forging metal into its final intended shape. Stainless steel metal fabrication industries and factories make such parts for other industries and factories. This may include manufacturing parts for automobile industries, industrial machines, equipment and devices, infrastructure, and construction purposes.

The main difference from metal assembling is that instead of using ready-to-use components steel fabricators use bulk steel to mold it into shape.

In the industry, many types of steel fabrication processes are used. This mainly depends on the quality of the steel and the product that is to be manufactured. Metal fabricators use metals and the alloys to manufacture the desired product.

The raw material for the steel fabricators are metal sheets, metal rods, metal bars and shape them into a finished product. Metal fabricating industries may themselves have their steel mines for raw steel production or they may source the steel supplies from a steel plant.

The metal fabricators have to deal with large projects and contracts with various industries as stated above. For getting these projects they have to place a bid and if they get the nod of the user then they starts with the project budget and designing and fabrication techniques.

Some metal fabrication industries also provide other services such as metal polishing, painting, and electroplating.

Here the most important and commonly used metal fabrication techniques have been explained in detail-

Casting

This is an extensively used process in the stainless steel metal fabrication industry. This includes pouring the metal into a mold or cast and then it is left to cool. Once the cast or the mold is detached the desired shape is obtained.

Cutting

Metal cutting is often required to make a part of a product. Industries use various types of processes such as laser cutting, water jet cutting tools, and plasma cutting.

Folding

Using a break press a crease is obtained on the metal body which is then bent at an angle. It is largely used for shaping metal sheets into desired shapes.

Stamping

Using tools the metal sheet is not punched but an indentation is obtained on the metal surface. This may be used to mark the shapes, forms, and designs on the metal surfaces. The tools used depend on the quality of steel supplies.

Welding

Here two or more metal pieces are joined together by using a welder. Welding metals give them structural strength and support.

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mickjames Joined: June 15th, 2020