Custom Metal Fabrication

CustomMetal Fabrication is a process of manufacturing metal products by utilising manual tools along with automatic machines to make metal objects or sections by cutting, bending and assembling the different raw materials, ultimately reaching the final product design desired by the customer. The process is considered to be cost effective as production time is reduced, machinery is not required for various tasks involved in metal production and the final products are strong, sturdy and durable. Metal work can range from simple components such as hand screws to intricately detailed aircraft, buildings and monuments. With Custom Metal Fabrication there are numerous options to choose from, such as aluminum extrusion, cold rolled steel, sheet metal casting, sheet metal bending and many other processes. Most importantly, the time taken to manufacture any particular product depends on the option selected.

Some of the different types of custom metal fabrication include sheet metal bending and welding, hot dip galvanizing, laser cut and EDM processes. Sheet metal bending is the process of creating hollow shapes using welding and it can be used for creating beams, boxes, profiles and many other common, small objects. For the hot dip galvanizing of metals, the dipped sheets of metal are coated with a releasing agent and are then put into a furnace where the temperature induces a chemical reaction with the metal, thus giving it a particular plating condition. The EDM process, Electrodeposition Modification process, is used to harden metals by depositing a hard crystalline material onto the surface of the object, which is then allowed to harden. This hardening property makes the object strong and durable.

Sheet metal cutting refers to shaping the shape of an object by employing shearing and cutting tools. The process involves cutting, folding and other shaping actions that shape the object into the desired form. In addition to cutting, folding and other shaping actions, a custom metalfabrication shop also employs engraving, paint coating and abrasive grinding as tools for producing a variety of objects. Each of these techniques is known as forming operations and the resulting products are known as parts, panels or fittings. There are many more processes that are used in custom metal fabrication and joining operations are covered in a number of good books that are available at your local library.