Did you know that there are more than 58,000 metal fabrication shops in the United States as of the year 2020? Whether you need custom metal fabrication or help with the metal fabrication process, there is a lot that a metal fabrication shop can do to help.
Many people think of welding when it comes to the metal fabrication industry but welding is only one type of process involved with manufacturing metal. Luckily, you’re in the right place to learn about everything that makes up the metal fabrication process and the benefits of metal fabrication.
Continue reading to learn more information about the importance of metal fabrication.
What Is Metal Fabrication?
Metal fabrication is the process of manufacturing metal. It could be into certain shapes or it could be for certain parts. There is a great number of techniques that get used in metal fabrication as a way of shaping sheet metal to meet the needs of different industries.
The most common thing that metal fabrication shops do is use sheet metal as a way to create new replacement parts as well as tools. This process involves converting sheet metal into these end products by cutting, folding, or shaping the metal into what the desired end product is.
It is more common for metal fabrication to mass-produce end products like tools, but that’s not where its capabilities end. Metal fabrication is also perfect for customized metal for different projects that fit a business’s needs. This versatility helps to make the metal fabrication industry much more marketable.
What Is the Metal Fabrication Process?
The primary functions of metal fabrication involve cutting and shaping, but there is so much more that goes into this process besides that. There are multiple steps involved with creating the perfect end product that a successful metal fabrication shop follows. The process starts in the design phase and leads into the fabrication phase. Here is a closer look at the process.
Design Phase
It is hard to get anywhere with any kind of project without a solid design to go off of. The design phase is arguably the most important phase in the metal fabrication process because it is where you develop your prototype. The prototype is essentially a trial run to see how feasible it is to create the end product that’s desired.
A good metal fabrication shop won’t start producing the product until after they’ve refined and tested the design. They’ll use design programs like computer-aided design and computer-aided manufacturing. It is also likely that they’ll use computer programs like metal fabrication distribution software.
Using these types of software ensures the best result coming out of the design phase. It is important that the product functions properly and as it was designed to function before moving onto the next phase in the process.
Fabrication Phase
The next step in the metal fabrication process involves the process of building the tool or component that you want to produce. This phase involves a metal fabricator cutting and shaping the components that come together to create the end product that you’ve designed in the design phase.
There are a number of different tools and processes that a metal fabrication shop will use in order to get everything perfect for your design. For each process that is used, there is a unique set of tools for getting the job done. Some of these tools include laser cutting and rolling form equipment.
With these tools, a trained metal fabricator will have no issues with creating the perfect end product based on the design they put together for your business.
Assembling Phase
The last step in the metal fabrication process is the assembling phase. This involves finishing all of the metal components you’ve created in the fabrication phase and then assembling them together to create the end product. These different components and processes work together to strengthen the product.
This makes sure that the product is ready before it goes to market and is used for its intended purposes. One process that it will go through before it is completely finished is the deburring process. This process removes any excess material from the product so that it is sleek and functions as designed.
Once the deburring process comes to an end you’re good to apply a powder coat of paint to the metal as you see fit. This is a great way to improve the aesthetics and appearance of the end product.
Benefits of Metal Fabrication
There are a number of benefits that the metal fabrication process provides. It goes a long way to increase the strength of the metal so your end product will be capable of standing up to anything thrown at it. It is also much stronger and more durable than its biggest competitor, plastic.
Another big benefit of metal fabrication is the appearance of metal. Metal shines and gives off the feeling of a sturdy and quality product. This is part of what makes metal the most popular building material around the globe today.
Another big benefit of metal fabrication, when compared to plastic, is that metal is much better suited to stand up to hot temperatures. A good fabricator will prepare metal for expansion so it will have no issue standing up to high levels of heat.
Metal fabrication is also a very cost-efficient process. If you’re producing a part or end product in high volumes then your costs are going to be much lower. You’ll also get unparalleled versatility with metal fabrication when compared to other building materials.
Make Metal Fabrication Work For You
Metal fabrication is an incredibly valuable skill for a number of reasons. In order to master it, you need to understand the process and the benefits of the metal fabrication industry. It is a great and cost-effective way to produce a durable end product that will last for years to come no matter what you throw at it. It also comes with a high degree of customization.
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