Metal fabrication is the building of metal structures by cutting, bending and assembling processes:
- Cutting is done by sawing, torching with hand-held torches (such as oxy-fuel torches or plasma torches); and via milling machine using a mill bits.
- Bending is done by press brakes and similar tools. Modern metal fabricators utilise press brakes to either coin or air-bend metal sheet into form. CNC-controlled backgauges utilise hard stops to position cut parts in order to place bend lines in the correct position. Off-line programing software now makes programing the CNC-controlled press brakes seamless and very efficient.
- Assembling (joining of the pieces) is done by welding, binding with adhesives, riveting, threaded fasteners, or even yet more bending in the form of a crimped seam. Structural steel and sheet metal are the usual starting materials for fabrication, along with the welding wire, flux, and fasteners that will join the cut pieces. As with other manufacturing processes, both human labour and automation are commonly used.
The product resulting from fabrication may be called a fabrication. Shops that specialise in this type of metal work are called fab shops. The end products of other common types of metalworking, such as machining may be similar in shape and function, but those processes are not classified as fabrication.
Fabrication Machinery capacity list:
- Guillotine (3 meters width x 25mm thickness)
- Press Brake (4 meters width x 8mm thickness)
- Punching capacity (28mm diameter on max. 24mm plate)
- Plate rolling capacity (3.7 meter width x 20mm thickness)
