Custom metal fabrication encompasses projects as simple as component casting and can scale up to include whole pieces of equipment and machinery.
The metal fabrication business employs roughly 1.425 million people, according to the studies. Other industries, such as automotive, energy, and aerospace, have a significant impact on metal fabrication research and development. As a result, many machine shops and manufacturers work hard to develop a robust organizational plan that will allow them to weather market highs and lows without fear.
The Custom Metal Fabrication Process In 8 Steps
Typical metal manufacturing will include any or all of the eight steps listed below:
1. Severance
The majority of metal manufacturing operations begin by cutting metal sheets into smaller portions. The dimensions of these portions will be determined mostly by the product design and the restrictions of any required machinery.
2. Formation
Metal surfaces are twisted into various forms during the folding process. Depending on the design requirements, press brakes and folding machines may be employed to achieve these bends.
3.Welding
Welding connects two independent metal components by melting them and pushing them to come together. This might require welding together two discrete components to make a bigger component, or placing huge finished parts together to complete a final design. Sheets, panels, bars, and a variety of other metal elements may be welded together.
4. Machining
In machining, a range of various cutting and shaping tools are used to remove pieces from a piece of metal. The metal will normally be spun against various equipment to cut away sections of the product until it’s attained its intended form or size.
5. Punching
Punch presses employ force to make holes in a piece of metal where additional pieces may be fastened. This procedure may be used to facilitate attaching of additional pieces to a bigger object or to make holes in a sheet which is then cut into smaller bits. Based on the design and size of the metal to be punched, this process can be executed by a simple manual punch press or a bigger, more complicated CNC punch press.
6. Shearing
Shearing involves producing lengthy cuts in sheets of metal. This method is frequently used to trim the edges of lengthy metal sheets.
7. Rubber Stamping
Like punching, stamping applies a compressive force on a die to form a metal sheet, yet stamping does not pierce the underlying material. Metal stamping has various applications, such as imprinting branding or inscription onto a metal product, generating a certain design form. A sequence of progressive dies may be used in more sophisticated designs to make gradual modifications to the item as it progresses through the process.
8. Casting
In casting, molten metal gets poured into a mold and is let hardened into the final design shape. This flexible manufacturing technology is widely utilized to build complicated forms.
4 Frequently Used Metals In Metal Fabrication
• Pipe And Tube
The pipe and tube are both hollow. Pipes are always circular. Tubes come in square, rectangular, and circular shapes. Pipes are pressure rated and meant to be utilized for the conveyance of fluids or gas. Tubes, on the other hand, are employed in structural applications. Carbon steel, stainless steel, aluminum, and other materials of varying grades are available.
• Metals For Structures
Structural metal is any prefabricated piece of metal designed for uniform assembly. This material is used extensively in the building and engineering industries, with popular examples being bars, beams, angles, and channels.
• Plate And Sheet Metals
Flat metal is a raw material and comes prefabricated in a range of thicknesses, but parts are frequently rather thin. Flat metal is classified into three types: leaf metal, sheet metal, and plated metal. Construction, household appliances, military, and defense are all examples of applications.
• Bar Stock
Solid Round, Square, and Rectangular Shapes Carbon steel, stainless steel, aluminum, and other materials of varying grades are available. For a variety of uses, it may be machined, bent rolled, and cut to length.
Custom Metal Fabrication Services
Building Image Group provides the best custom metal fabrication services. Our BIG Signs are a great example of our work. Get in touch with us to learn more about our custom metal fabrication capabilities and how they can assist you in your project.
