4 Key Strategies That Professionals Use to Fabricate Metal

Metal is widely used to manufacture various things, from home and office appliances to panels for automobiles. Metal fabricators turn raw metal into different shapes that manufacturers use for other assembling purposes. The fabrication process is a bit complex, and it involves different processes to produce the final product. So, what are the main fabrication processes that fabricators use when preparing the metal for other applications? Read through to find out.

Metal Cutting 

Cutting is a popular process that fabricators use to produce small pieces of metal from metal sheets. The metal here is in bar form or rather in its original state without any shape, and professionals can slice it down into pieces.

However, some fabricators also use shaped metal or measured panels, and they cut into small sizes depending on their requirements. In each fabrication process, fabricators use different cutting materials depending on the metal type or fabrication requirements. Professionals use plasma torches, lasers and other machines that make their cutting work easier.

Metal Folding 

You can also have sheets of metal folded into different shapes to make the sharp edges of the metal sheets blunt. But, not all fabricators out there can fold metal. Only those with the appropriate folding equipment can manage to fold the metal sheets. The process of folding metal requires specialised equipment and skilled personnel.

Metal Welding 

Metal fabricators can also join two separate metal pieces with the help of a welding machine. The fabricators use sheets, bars, panels or different shaped metal pieces, depending on what the manufacturer needs.

During the welding process, metal fabricators apply heat on the two separate metal pieces, which melt the edges, and then join the two metals together with solders. 

Metal Machining 

Machining is about removing different portions of metal from the main pieces of metal. Machining involves rotating different pieces of metal against a special machine that trims their edges. That produces different metal pieces that differ in shape and size. Metal fabricators might also use a drilling machine that drills holes in different metal pieces if that is what manufacturing requirements say.

If you didn't know how the metal fabrication process works, the four strategies above are among the fabricators' main fabrication processes. In each process, metal fabricators consider or prioritise the type of metal and the manufacturer's requirements, enabling them to choose the most suitable fabrication process. If you want metal fabrication processes, it is advisable to choose licenced and insured fabricators to enhance efficiency.