Metal fabrication is complicated and encompasses a wide variety of processes. Whether you would like something made as a once off, or you would like something mass produced, it's important that you to understand fabrication and the various processes that go into it.

Below can be 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 these primary uses. In addition to this, there exists a brief description of finishing touches and protective coatings that may be applied to fabricated metal products. It is a guide based on the practices of professional operators and should not be used as instructions for DIY jobs.

Cutting

Just as the name suggests, this fabrication process relies on cutting. It sounds heavy handed, yet it really is one of the most technical and accurate processes available.

The initial variant of cutting techniques is 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, nevertheless the most common method of cutting metals during fabrication has been CNC machining. These machines can use manual tools, laser cutting, or water jets. The desired design is programmed in to the CNC machine and the metal is shaped by one of many aforementioned tools, in to the shape specified by the computer design. As you can imagine, this method is particularly useful for intricate, or highly detailed projects.

Joining

This is one of the more commonly used ways of fabrication. Fabrication processes that are categorized as the broad group of 'joining' include welding, riveting or bonding with adhesives. If you look around you at this time, you should be in a position to spot one or more items constructed using these procedures.

Welding, because you can already know, is joining two bits of metal together using heat and a filler material. Riveting also joins two pieces of metal together, but with a metal rivet - no heat required. For a few 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 according to 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 that involves bending metal into 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 made by bending much tougher and much more durable.

Final Touches

The ultimate touches to any fabricated product are applied once all of the joining, cutting or welding has been completed. This may range from paint applied purely for aesthetic reasons, to protective coatings such as powder coating or sandblasting. In steel fabrication with the maker, you should be in a position to find a coating that is befitting your purpose and budget.

To learn more 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.