Understanding the Types of Metal Fabrication Processes
As reported by Thomasnet in their article “Types of Metal Fabrication Processes,” metal fabrication refers to the process of cutting, shaping, or molding raw or semi-finished materials into a final product. Unlike assembly, which combines ready-made components, fabrication creates custom or stock products from scratch.
Metal fabricators use stock materials like sheet metal, rods, billets, and bars to create components. Fabrication shops, or “fab shops,” often bid on custom jobs and, upon winning a contract, begin by sourcing materials and programming CNC machines to produce the required parts.
Common Metal Fabrication Processes
Fab shops employ multiple processes depending on the job, such as:
- Cutting: Techniques like laser cutting, plasma cutting, or sawing to cut metal to size.
- Forming: Bending, rolling, or pressing metal into desired shapes.
- Welding: Joining two or more metal components.
- Machining: Precisely shaping metal using lathes, mills, and drills.
Secondary Finishing Services
After fabrication, finishing processes such as polishing, deburring, coating, and painting are applied to improve the final product’s appearance and durability. Unlike fabrication, finishing does not alter the shape or form of the metal but enhances its surface.
Choosing the Right Fabrication Shop
Selecting the appropriate fabrication shop for a project involves evaluating their capabilities, available machinery, and experience with the required processes. Custom jobs often require a fabricator experienced in CNC programming, precision forming, and complex assembly.
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Article with all rights reserved, courtesy of thomasnet.com.