The term metal fabrication refers to manipulating metal materials. The result includes new metal parts. This process is performed in places called fab shops. The best fab shops are capable of performing all the necessary processes to make any metal products. They combine skilled individuals and automation to provide top-notch work. They may also be able to perform other types of metalworking as well. Here is some other interesting information about this process and these shops.
Processes
The three main processes of manipulating materials include cutting, bending, and assembling. Cutting is done with saws, shears, chisels, torches, or automated machines. Bending is done with hammers, press brakes, or tube benders. This is often performed by hand or human-operated machines in modern fab shops. However, some shops have embraced bending with automated machines. Assembling involves welding, adhesion, riveting, fastening, or crimping. Welding wire, flux, or fasteners can be used to assembling the most commonly worked with materials.
This manipulation is seen in specific trades outside of fab shops such as blacksmithing, welding, boiler making, millwrighting, and ironworking. People in these trades can find work in fab shops or work closely with them. Furthermore, some people confuse fab shops with machine shops. Fab shops focus on preparing and assembling metal pieces, while machine shops take the metal and cut it into tools. Some companies have both fab shops and machine shops.
Materials
The materials used in each shop will vary. However, you will generally find plate metal, formed and expanded metal, welding wire, and casting materials.
Tools
Whether making metal for government contracts or individual customers, fab shops may use a variety of tools. Shears are some of the most commonly used tools. Band saws are also detrimental to the cutting process. Likewise, chop saws, similar to the miter saw sitting in your basement, are commonplace in a fab shop. Artisans may also use torches in their daily work.
Automated machines include items such as burn tables, which are computer-operated torches. Fancy computer-operated machines, such as plasma cutters, can also be found in fab shops. These allow plate metals to be loaded on in large quantities and quickly shaped. They are also becoming more popular because they tend to last longer in the industry than human-operated tools.
Fabricating metals involves manipulating materials to make metal. This involves many processes, materials, and tools to produce materials that can be made into machines, tools, or buildings.
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