Metal fabrication is complicated and has a wide variety of processes. Whether you would like something made as a once off, or you desire something mass produced, it is important that you to understand fabrication and the various processes that get into it.
Below is an outline of the three main fabrication processes which are used for metal. You can find details about how these procedures work and some of these primary uses. Furthermore, there is a brief description of finishing touches and protective coatings which can be applied to fabricated metal products. This is usually a guide based on the practices of professional operators and really should not be utilized as instructions for DIY jobs.
Cutting
In the same way the name suggests, this fabrication process relies on cutting. It sounds heavy handed, yet it is actually one of the most technical and accurate processes available.
The initial variant of cutting techniques is the physical shearing or sawing of metal, generally done by large machines, nonetheless it is also possible to accomplish manually. In addition to this, it is also possible to cut metal using Oxyacetylene or plasma torches to manually cut using heat.
The aforementioned methods have their place, nevertheless 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 into the CNC machine and the metal is shaped by one of the aforementioned tools, into the shape specified by the computer design. As you can imagine, this method is specially useful for intricate, or highly detailed projects.
Joining
This is one of the more commonly used methods of fabrication. Fabrication processes that are categorized as the broad group of 'joining' include welding, riveting or bonding with adhesives. If you look around you right now, you should be able to spot one or more items constructed using these procedures.
Welding, as you may 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, additionally it is 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 methods over the others.
Bending
Bending, because the name suggests, is really a fabrication process which involves bending metal into 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 can make items made by bending much tougher and more durable.
Final Touches
The ultimate touches to any fabricated product are applied once all the joining, cutting or welding has been completed. This can range between paint applied purely for aesthetic reasons, to protective coatings such as powder coating or sandblasting. In https://www.snntv.com/story/49019114/aisc-certified-structural-steel-fabricator-carolina-fabricators-inc-provides-advanced-time-critical-custom-metal-fabrication-and-machining-solutions with the maker, you should be able to find a coating that is befitting your purpose and budget.
For additional information about fabrication, or even to have an item fabricated, you should contact your nearest specialist workshop. They'll be able to guide you through the fabrication process and turn out a quality finished product.