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What Is Fabrication? These Are the Key Things to Know

What Is Fabrication

The United States currently employs over 1,386,200 employees. With the fabricated metal products accounting for at least $345.1 billion of U.S. shipments in 2013 alone, the sector is bound to grow rapidly over the next ten years. Fabrication is a vital part of the manufacturing process.

The creation of hardware, tools, car parts, pipes, and plane parts depends on metal fabrication and manufacturing. Yet, despite this critical role played by metal fabrication entities, most Americans don’t understand what fabrication is. A myriad of processes makes up metal fabrication and assembly.

Could you be wondering what is fabrication? Here, we provide a comprehensive guide to metal fabrication in manufacturing and engineering.

What Is Fabrication?

Fabrication involves the process of making something from raw or semi-finished materials. Most fabricators prefer this option as opposed to the use of ready-made components in the course of assemblage. In layman’s terms, this is the act of making something meaningful from scratch.

With this knowledge in mind, metal fabrication refers to the value-addition process, which involves building metal structures by bending, cutting, and assembling to create various components. While it has been with us for a while, only a few Americans understand the procedures involved.

Fabrication Processes

Are you stuck trying to figure out what is fabrication? You aren’t alone. Fabricators often utilize these eight common processes to achieve the perfect fit.

Cutting

Cutting is among the most common procedures in the fabrication process. This method is vital when engineering sheets to size by removing waste materials and in joint preparations. An old standby saw is a common tool for the oldies in the sector.

With technology, you can utilize plasma torches, water jets, or lasers when cutting metal. However, the cost of acquiring such equipment varies with complexity. In addition, cutting metal and the tools used also depends on the anticipated outcome.

Folding

Most parts need bending to fit into your anticipated shapes and designs. Folding allows you to bend the parts to fit into diverse models. The most common methods of folding involve press braking.

You might need to collaborate with an engineer with impeccable experience to minimize faults in the folding process. When folding, you might also need to be extra careful not to spend too much time on models that require complex shapes, which might slow down production. As of 2019, the average output per hour in the sector was 95.982. Working within these parameters is imperative.

Machining

Sometimes you might need to remove metal from a piece of material when welding. This process refers to machining. The most common option is using a lathe where the material can rotate in multiple directions.

You may also use modern drills during this process. Machining often depends on the number of axis in a given machine. For most fabricators with normal routine machining processes, a 3-axis machine is recommendable.

Punching

The punch press is among the most mature technologies in fabrication today. Punching is useful when undertaking dense perforations. You can also cut large panels into shape when using this option.

Are you wondering how to fabricate complex shapes without losing the aesthetics? You can use the punch press to form louvres, embosses, and other complex shapes. Even so, you might need to partner with an experienced fabricator to enhance the quality of the outcome.

Welding

Most people assume that welding is the other name for fabrication. Welding is common, given that it’s the most used procedure during fabrication. This process involves joining two pieces of metal together to form various shapes and designs.

Welders use heat to join two similar or dissimilar materials into one object. Welding is often the fundamental procedure in assembling cars, places, and bridges.

Shearing

You might need to cut straight lines on flat metal stock or sheets when fabricating. However, achieving that perfect cut might be elusive. This is why most fabricators use shearing as an effective option.

Most people also refer to this method as die-cutting. You can cut metal without the formation of chips using sheers, which reduces the extent of wastage. The cutting blades, when shearing, should be straight to ensure a perfect model.

Additive Manufacturing

With technology comes new ideas and concepts. Additive manufacturing is among the most recent advancements in the sector. This is a class of manufacturing where the fabricators add layers of materials to one another to make a perfect model.

Additive fabrication moves away from a subtractive process to focus more on rapid prototyping. You might need to work with a partner who understands this innovation to ensure you achieve the desired shapes. Part of the fabrication services at Imagineering Inc. involves prototyping to ensure a perfect fit between function and design.

Stamping

The other common fabrication process is stamping. While this process is similar to punching, it doesn’t involve cutting. Instead, you can either use blank or coil form, which you press onto a flat metal sheet to form a net shape.

The best thing about stamping is that it applies to other materials apart from metal. You can utilize automotive stamping dies to achieve unique models. With these options, the process of fabrication is no longer complex.

Have you been wondering what is fabrication is in manufacturing? These fabrication processes are some of the essential procedures that go into the fabrication procedure.

Consider a Reliable Fabrication Partner Today

Fabrication is critical in producing parts and components for various industries, including the automotive sector. While procedures such as welding date back decades ago, most Americans have limited information on what is fabrication. Are you trying to understand the basics of fabrication?

Well, at least eight methods make up the process of fabrication. Once you understand these methods, you’ll only need to work with a reliable engineering partner to help you deal with the more complex issues such as prototyping.

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