An essential part of any manufacturing process, metal fabrication encompasses a wide range of possibilities.
Being able to understand what exactly it involves helps project managers and buyers make the correct decision when looking for suppliers.
In this complete metal fabrication guide, we break down everything there is to do about metal fabrication so that when it’s time to select your supplier, you know exactly what you’re looking for and what should be offered.
What Is Metal Fabrication?
Metal fabrication can be generalised as the process of manufacturing things from raw metal through a range of processes. This might include things such as cutting, stamping, welding, machining, tapping, drilling and many more.
Essentially, if work involves using metal as the main material, it can be called fabrication.
Metal fabrication also comes in all shapes and sizes. It could be used to manufacture something as small as a nut, bolt of spring, or it could be something as large as a vehicle sub-assembly, aerospace parts and beyond.
The reason it’s so important to find a dedicated metal fabrication shop is that it can speed up the manufacturing process for your project. Working with a metal fabricator who has all the correct equipment (ie welding bays, stretch benders, drills, etc) speeds up the manufacturing process for your project.
The Metal Fabrication Process
The metal fabrication process may vary depending on your fabrication partner, but typically it should follow these three steps.
1: Design
Without a design, you are essentially working blind. Converting conversations into 3D drawings using CAD software helps metal fabricators visualise the product and work out the quickest and most efficient way of fabrication
Most metal fabricators should offer a design service at an additional cost, but they will also work to existing drawings you may have completed in house.
2: Fabricate
The next process is then fabrication and the start of the manufacturing process. This step includes a variety of types of fabrication, from cutting metal to size, bending it to shape and more.
Essentially, the fabrication process is turning a CAD design and all of its components from a design into the real thing.
Assemble
After the fabrication stage, the next step is to assemble all of your fabricated components to create the product. This usually evolves welding and depending on what materials the part is made from or what level of quality is needed helps dictate the assembly technique.
Finishing
Once assembled, it’s up to the customer how they want the product to be finished. How the part is going to be used guides this, and we’ve created a guide to help you decide what finishing you need for your fabricated parts.
Types of Metal Fabrication?
There are an extensive range of metal fabrication approaches. Below are some of the more common fabrication methods. For a more extensive list, feel free to speak to one of our team.
- Cutting – Cutting involves resizing the metal into small pieces required for the project and can achieved through manual tools such as grinders or through hi-tech solutions such as laser cutters
- Spinning – Using a lathe to rotate the component and remove material, spinning is typically used to create rounded parts.
- Welding – Welding is one of the most widely used fabrication techniques that uses extreme heat to bind two metal components.
- Punching – Using force to create holes, metal is placed under a punch. Using high pressure, holes are then created.
- Bending – As the name would suggest, bending involves manipulating the shape of metal rather than cutting it, using specialist tools, bending is used to create V and U shapes.
Conclusion
Metal fabrication is essential in manufacturing and it’s important to understand what you are getting from your supplier.
From understanding the possibilities that can be achieved through the process to having a clear, step-by-guide, you need to know you will be working with the best possible fabricators.
Whether it’s welding, laser cutting, punching, bending or more, feel free to reach out to our expert team of engineers who will be happy to guide you and offer you a single point of contact for your next project.
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