Metal Fabrication
Metal fabrication affects our day-to-day life more than we can imagine. Most of the structures that call for the utilization of metals have to turn to fabrication to attain the desired end result. Metal fabrication is the process of cutting, bending, and assembling the metallic structures from various metal pieces and parts. As you could imagine, fabrication is a task that should exclusively be left to skilled professionals.
As you now know, metal fabrication is the process of bending, cutting, and then assembling metal structures from various metallic pieces and parts. The metal cutting process during fabrication is typically accomplished through shearing or sawing, punching, or laser cutting. To accomplish this process, you need a press brake. The press brake utilizes various dies to help you attain various types of bends that the project requires. The first steps in the metal fabrication process are bending and cutting. After you cut the metal piece, you will bend it to the appropriate shape and size. Afterward, you assemble them together through the welding process. Here are some of the stages that are part of the metal fabrication process in detail.
The Metal Fabrication Process
The first part is to cut the metal to the right size either manually or by using mechanized techniques like chiseling, shearing, or sawing. Currently, the popularity of time-saving techniques like lasers, torches, or water jets has been increasing because they are computer-controlled. It is a rather complex process that begins with a humble metal sheer. It explains it is widely called sheet metal fabrication. You can get perfect solutions from Contract Manufacturing Specialists of Indiana.
After accomplishing the cutting, you now need to bend your metal parts into various shapes. To accomplish this process, you have to use hammering or press brakes. The process can either be automated or manual. The press brake machine will use punches and dies to clamp the metal sheet.
Lastly, you measure the metal pieces again before assembling them through various techniques like binding, riveting, fastening, and welding. The above three steps more or less wrap up the metal fabrication process.
Professionals also fabricate metals using a special process that is called stamping. The technique is most applicable in the production of large quantities of the same metal part. It starts by creating a mold or stamp that is subsequently utilized in the stamping machine to stamp the metal parts out of a sheet metal piece. You can compare this to a cookie cutter that is used to cut cookies from the rolled dough.
In the initial stages, stamping may require a considerable investment to build the mold. However, after building the mold, the economies of scale come in play because the cost per unit is relatively low. The process is used for items like hinges, panels, vents, and many more. Stamping is typically used in producing large quantities of the same metallic part.
Several metals are uses in fabrication and the most common one is steel. The most common alloying element is carbon because it is cheaper and also adds the desirable traits to the metal like increased hardness, malleability, and strength. This depends on the amount of carbon that you are adding. The main drawback of carbon is that it is susceptible to corrosion. In this case, you can offer enhanced protection to the item by either painting or coating it. Alternatively, you can employ the process of stainless-steel fabrication for great results. If you require the parts to show better corrosion and endurance, it is recommended to go for stainless steel fabrication.
The metal fabrication industry is growing very fast. It is wise to choose a reputable fabricator who will offer reasonable manufacturing facilities, offer practical designs, and recommend the best metal. One of the top examples of such a brand in the region is Contract Manufacturing Specialists of Indiana.
Different types of metals are used in fabrication but the most common one is steel. Steel is primarily an alloy of iron with varying amounts of carbon addition generally 0.2% to 2.1%. The most common alloying element is carbon because it has the lowest cost and adds desirable traits like hardness, malleability, and strength to the metal depending on the amount of carbon that you add. While carbon steel is extremely versatile and useful, the main challenge with it is that it rusts and corrodes. If this is a concern for your project, you can coat or paint the item for increased protection. You can also make it stainless steel for resistance to corrosion. An alloy of nickel, chromium, or steel is the most common form of stainless steel fabrication which is ‘surgical steel’ or Type 304. There is a broad range of metals that you can use and these are just a few examples. If you are planning for a metal fabrication project, you can count on your metal fabricator to obtain and recommend the best types of metals for the project.
The metal fabrication industry is growing pretty fast. There are so many metal fabricators in the market and you should choose the one that will meet your needs perfectly. Reputable fabricators will recommend the best metals, design your project for manufacturing, and have the right manufacturing facilities to deliver the best product at a competitive price.
In fabrication, you will be manipulating one thing to make it become something else. Metal fabrication is among the most common forms of fabrication in the market. Fabrication has come a long way and now includes metal forming, metal bending, laser cutting, welding, and many more. This expands the application of metal fabrication beyond the realm of basic tools and weapons.
Metal Fabrication Via History
As a high school student, you know that metal was first used to make basic tools. You can picture a spear or primitive arrowhead, fastened with the rawhide and attached feather. As far as history speaks, you will not be far from the truth. Ancient examples of metal fabrication were discovered in caves and all the metal fabrications that were created were for a purpose. No metal fabrication or plasma cutting was done for decorative purposes but only for survival. As far as we can recall, there are the earliest cousins of the modern and technologically savvy metal fabrications that we witness today.
Why Fabrication Services are Important
In ancient times, fabrication helped human beings to survive. Things are not much different today. Copper, aluminum, iron, and stainless steel all give human beings the products that they require in their daily life. You will get fabricated products for use on automobile parts to military products and anything that is in between.
Types of Metal Fabrication
Metal fabrication is done for a broad range of applications and industries. The metal fabricated parts include everything from weapons, shark cages, holding tanks, boat propellers, aircraft components, car parts, and much more.
Contract Assembly
Even though contract assembly is not specifically metal fabrication, it involves some form of fabrication. The process pertains a client contracting, machining, fabrication, or assembly works to a more experienced provider who has all the necessary machinery such as Contract Manufacturing Specialists of Indiana. The contract assembly company will also organize for the delivery of the products.
Metal Forming and Bending
The most common type of machine that is used to perform metal forming is the hydraulic press brake. This is a long shot from what the primitive men would have utilized. Metal bending is accomplished with mandrels and shaped dies to bend tubular sections without kinking them. Rolling machines are utilized in forming plate steel to a round section.
Plasma Cutting
This is one of the metal fabrications processes that the ancient homo sapiens would have surely loved. Plasma cutting utilizes a plasma torch in cutting various metal thicknesses, especially steel, with extreme levels of accuracy. By combining electricity and pressurized inert gas, the metal fabricator creates a high-powered pressure stream that is capable of melting metal and simultaneously blows it away before drying into the cut.
Welding
Welding is a time-honored technique that is used to join metals. It slightly differs from plasma cutting and it uses a broad range of energy sources. These include friction, electricity, heat, and even ultrasound. You can get the best metal fabrication services from Contract Manufacturing Specialists of Indiana.
There are so many things that make us be the best contract manufacturing company in the region. The top among them all is the kind of experts that we employ. We have a team of highly talented experts that will work on your project.
Our core offerings and services at Contract Manufacturing Specialists of Indiana includes, but is not limited to, the following below:
We service multiple cities throughout the state of Indiana. We provide all the services listed above, and much more in every city throughout Indiana.
If you don’t see your city listed or a specific service listed, don’t worry. All you have to do is contact us by either giving us a call or filling out our online contact form. Then we’ll discover what are some of the top solutions for you, your business, and executing a solid solution.
