Common Metalwork Fabrication Processes In Use Today
Since man began working with metal to make structures, machines and components, fabrication processes have been honed into well-organised and skilled industrial procedures. Nowadays, many of them are automated or computer-aided in some way, although skilled metal fabrication is also just as likely to be conducted by hand. What are the main metal fabrication techniques that are currently in use?
Bending
One of the most common methods for metal fabrication, bending means reforming a material into new shapes. This could be achieved by nothing more sophisticated than hammering it over an anvil. However, in industrial terms, bending usually means pressing it with a great deal of precision using a machine.
Blanking
This is a process which involves cutting a shape out of a piece of metal. It is commonly used to get the right shape of metal from a larger piece of sheet metal. The section of metal around the blank that is obtained is not used.
Cutting
In industrial terms, cutting metal can mean shearing it or chiselling it to resize it. In many cases, a metal fabricator will cut a section of metal simply by sawing it to the desired dimension. The latest developments in metal cutting involve plasma and laser cutters. These systems can fashion pieces with a very high degree of precision.
Finishing
This is a fabrication process which alters the appearance of a piece and is usually the last method to be applied by metal workers. Sometimes, finishing can be a simple as hand painting a completed product. However, corrosion resisting finishes and those which protect pieces from blemishes, like lacquer applications, are also commonplace.
Galvanising
If a metal such as steel needs to be protected from oxidisation, then galvanisation is a preferred fabrication process. Essentially, galvanisation means covering a metal component or product with a thin layer of zinc which oxidises instead of the metal beneath. This helps it to last longer and it also looks attractive in many settings.
Milling
This is a process that uses rotating cutters to get rid of extraneous sections of metal from a workpiece. The item being worked on is usually conveyed toward the cutters at a set angle so that just the right amount of metal can be removed.
Stamping
Metalwork that is stamped is effectively embossed to create a new type of surface with a combination of ridges and plateaux. When stamping is used as part of a fabrication process, it is common for multiple stamps to be made with a single pressing.