Metal fabrication is a process that runs the world these days. Fabricated metals are used in the creation of a wide range of products ranging from bolts of doors to parts of cars. This article talks about metal fabrication and its types.
What is Metal Fabrication?
It is the process of making sheets of metals or flat metals for moulding them into different shapes and sizes later. Sheet metal of thickness of a quarter of an inch is manufactured, and then they are reshaped into different shapes using certain basic techniques. At this specified thickness, the metal can be moulded into the desired shape with ease.
What are the basic techniques used by fabricators to shape the metals?
Some of the basic techniques used by fabricators are:
- Cutting- It is the most basic process and is done using lasers, plasma torches, or certain other specialized tools. The metal sheets are cut as per requirement.
- Folding- It is considered the most complex of all the processes involved. It is the bending of metal at a particular angle to create a fold. If the fold is made at 90 degrees, then the fold is sharp, and if it is made at an angle less than that, the fold formed has a blunt end. The process can be done with the help of specialized tools only and requires a lot of experience to gain perfection.
- Welding- Welding is the easiest alternative to folding. Instead of folding the metal at the desired angle, fabricators join two separate pieces at the desired angle using a welding machine.
- Machining- Chipping off edges of a metal sheet to produce the desired shape is called machining. Lathe or a drill is the most common machining tool.
- Shearing- It is a process of making larger cuts on sheets with the help of machines like open cutters or a metal cutting machine.
- Punching- Punching, the process of making holes, is usually carried out to create holes in a metal panel to attach required parts. In some cases, it is used to perform the task of blanking, which is the creation of a smaller part from a large sheet of metal.
- Stamping- It is the process of embossing on a certain area on a metal sheet to create an impression. Impressions on the surface of a coin are an example of stamping.
- Casting- It is one of the oldest and most effective metal fabrication techniques. It is the process of creating a part by pouring molten metal into a mould and letting it set.
Why is metal fabrication an indispensable part of today’s world?
Most industries make use of fabricated metals in one way or another. It is actively used in the manufacturing, construction, and aerospace industry. Fabricated products are used to build the frameworks of big buildings in the construction industry. It is also used in the shipping industry as everything ranging from the ship to minor parts in it is made using this marvellous technique of metal fabrication.
The OEM manufacturing industry makes use of this technique to create automobile parts. In addition, it is an indirect participant in the farming industry as all the machinery used in farming like tractors and harvesting machines are made using this process.
Everyday items like car keys, locks, spoons, forks, pots, pans, cans and even blinds of a curtain are made by employing the technique of metal fabrication. Hence, it isn’t wrong to say that metal fabrication is the magic behind the skyscrapers to the forks or spoons seen in kitchens.