WHAT'S Metal Fabrication?
Metal fabrication is complicated and has a wide variety of processes. Whether you desire something made as a once off, or you would like something mass produced, it's important that you to understand fabrication and the many processes that go into it.
Below is an outline of the three main fabrication processes which are used for metal. You can find details about how these processes work and some of their primary uses. Furthermore, you will find a brief description of finishing touches and protective coatings which can be applied to fabricated metal products. This can be a guide using the practices of professional operators and really should not be utilized as instructions for DIY jobs.
Cutting
Just as the name suggests, this fabrication process depends on cutting. It sounds heavy handed, yet it is actually one of the more technical and accurate processes available.
The first variant of cutting techniques may be the physical shearing or sawing of metal, generally done by large machines, nonetheless it is also possible to accomplish manually. Furthermore, additionally it is possible to cut metal using Oxyacetylene or plasma torches to manually cut using heat.
The aforementioned methods have their place, however the most common method of cutting metals during fabrication is with CNC machining. These machines may use manual tools, laser cutting, or water jets. The required design is programmed into the CNC machine and the metal is shaped by one of many aforementioned tools, into the shape specified by the computer design. As you can imagine, this method is specially ideal for intricate, or highly detailed projects.
Joining
This is one of the most commonly used methods of fabrication. Silverline Structures that fall under the broad category of 'joining' include welding, riveting or bonding with adhesives. In the event that you look around you right now, you should be in a position to spot a number of items constructed using these processes.
Welding, as you may already know, is joining two pieces of metal together using heat and a filler material. Riveting also joins two bits of metal together, but with a metal rivet - no heat required. For some items, it is also possible to use an adhesive glue to join different components. Each of these methods have their very own strengths and weaknesses, so depending on the task, a fabrication plant will recommend one of these methods over the others.
Bending
Bending, because the name suggests, is really a fabrication process which involves bending metal in to the desired shape. Although it is possible to get this done manually, modern machinery has largely replaced the more traditional manual bending methods. The lack of joints could make items created by bending much tougher and more durable.
Final Touches
The final touches to any fabricated product are applied once all the joining, cutting or welding has been completed. This may range from paint applied purely for aesthetic reasons, to protective coatings such as for example powder coating or sandblasting. In consultation with the maker, you should be in a position to find a coating that is appropriate for your purpose and budget.
For additional information about fabrication, or even to have something fabricated, you should contact your nearest specialist workshop. They will be able to guide you through the fabrication process and turn out an excellent finished product.