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About Metal Fabricators
Metal fabrication services manufacture custom components
that make up larger assemblies or end products. Fabrication encompasses
a wide variety of operations that are performed on comparatively thin
sheets of metal. Metal fabrication services typically fall into two categories:
heavy fabrication (e.g. bridge, crane and ship structures) and light
fabrication, such as automobile bodies, water tanks and metal chairs.
Metal fabrication operations include stamping, cutting, bending, forming,
laser
cutting and welding. Metal fabricators have an understanding of
metal structures, are able to read and interpret engineering drawings
and can fabricate shapes using geometric development techniques. Other
products manufactured by metal fabricators include enclosures, frames,
brackets, panels, grills, cabinets, etc.
Metal fabrications start with metal stock that is cut to the required
size through shearing, power hack, band or circular sawing or acetylene
torch cutting. The metal stock is then formed into the desired geometries
through the application of mechanical force. Common types of metal shaping
equipment include press brakes, rolls, spinners and punches. The workpiece
is given its final shape through machining operations, such as broaching,
boring, twist drilling, turning, counterboring, spotfacing, countersinking,
reaming, milling and grinding. Non-traditional machining methods are
slower and require higher energy but are necessary for applications in
which traditional methods are not effective. Non-traditional machining
methods cover a broad range of mechanical, electrical, thermal and chemical
processes.
Metal fabrications are capable of joining metal parts together through
various processes. Welding is nearly always used in metal fabrications
processes. Types of welding differ by heat source, pressure and filler
metals. Heat and filler metals are used to connect metal surfaces in
brazing and soldering operations. These joining processes do not melt
the base materials as welding does. Metal parts may also be joined by
applying adhesives and then curing or setting the adhesive.
Finishing processes are used by metal fabrication services to protect
the metal workpiece from cracking, to improve machinability, relieve
stresses, enhance mechanical properties, provide impact resistance or
alter the electrical or magnetic properties of the surface of the material
(substrate). Parts may be heat-treated at various stages of the fabrication
process in a type of furnace that may be a salt-bath, vacuum, fluidized-bed,
induction, laser or electron beam furnace. Case hardening, similar to
heat treating, is a process in which the parts are heated with a thermochemical
treatment that alters the chemical composition of the steel surface in
order to impart certain surface characteristics. Quenching is a cooling
process that a metal workpiece undergoes after heat-treating. Cooling
media, which include air, oil, polymers, water and molten salts, may
be applied in streaming gaseous form, liquid baths, fog or mist, in order
to cool the metal workpiece at varying rates and to varying degrees.
Polishing and buffing lathes, high-speed polishing machines or off-hand
buffing and polishing pads are used to smooth and shine the substrate.
Wet or dry tumbling and vibratory finishing processes use media, such
as ceramics, stone, glass beads, metal shot, etc.. For cleaning purposes,
oxide removal/descaling, brightening or edge-breaking and burr removal
are used.
Featured
Articles
http://www2.thefabricator.com/Articles/Fabricating_Article.cfm?ID=115
http://www.cncci.com/resources/articles/what%20is%20cnc.htm
Types of Metal Fabricators
- manufacture components for industrial machinery or other products.
-
utilizes a device that produces a bright and intense light beam. The
high-powered laser
beam, depending on the total power output and beam diameter, is
capable of cutting, marking and welding a metal.
-
is the act of creating or modifying a metal product. Examples of metal
fabricating include welding, bending, laser cutting, etc.
-
create custom-shaped or molded goods from metal sheets. Sheet metal
fabricators are responsible for making body panels for automobiles,
aerospace and aviation parts.
-
is the process of creating custom parts using various grades of stainless
steel. Stainless
steel offers excellent corrosion resistance, high strength and attractive
aesthetic characteristics.
-
make or modify products made of steel. A steel fabricator offers varying
services including steel bending, welding and cutting.
- manufacture steel components for the construction industry.
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