What are Metal Fabrication Services?

welder working on a welding machine

What are Metal Fabrication Services?

Some things have to take place before we see them become reality. For instance, central heating and air conditioning systems. What we may see as a central HVAC system being installed in our homes or places of business is a lot of other work that happens first with the metal fabrication services. 

When you hear the words ‘metal fabrication services, ’ it doesn’t sound like something you would be exposed to every day, but it is. At some point in your day, anything you do, from eating to going to school or work or even recreational activities, there are metal fabrication services involved at some point. Even the glass, paper, and plastic industries have used metal fabrication services. 

What are metal fabrication services?

A simplified definition of metal fabrication services involves creating a product or structure by bending, cutting, and assembling metal material. This process is value-added because it combines raw metal materials to create something. Metal fabrication services play a critical role that many manufacturing businesses rely on.

Are there different types of metal fabrication services? 

Yes, there are three different types of metal fabrication services. Those three different types have distinct functions in the process of fabrication: 

  • Industrial Metal Fabrication Services: These metal fabrication services create parts of equipment and tools used in crafting consumer goods in other industries. One instance of industrial metal fabrication is the manufacturing of steel bandsaws, which are, in turn, used in different industries.
  • Structural Metal Fabrication Services: These metal fabrication services create metal structures, like in the structural steel industries where steel frames are built. 
  • Commercial Metal Fabrication Services: These metal fabrication services involve fabricating metals to create machinery and tools used in the consumer goods industries, such as vehicles. 

What are six examples of metal fabrication services?

Metal fabrication services are distinct from other types of manufacturing processes. Metal fabrication, for example, either produces end products or parts used to complete products. The different types of manufacturing are assembling ready-made components or parts. Some standard methods of metal fabrication services include: 

  • Cutting/Notching: A common technique in metal workpiece fabrication is cutting metal material into smaller sections, often the first step in a more extensive fabrication process. Before the modern way of cutting metal, it was done by hand sawing. Today, state-of-the-art machinery is used, including computer numerical cutters and power tools with laser cutting, plasma arc cutting, power scissor cutting, and waterjet cutting.
  • Folding/Forming: Fabrication involves bending or distorting metal to produce different components and parts. This includes forming sheets and strips of metal by rolling them using CNC press braking of up to 400 tons of pressure without losing their mass. 
  • Punching: One of the most common metal fabrication services includes creating or punching holes using mechanical devices or machines in different metals for two purposes. The punch press houses turrets that punch metal into or through a die to create uniquely designed holes—the finished product of uniquely designed holes for design or fastening purposes. 
  • Shearing: The shearing process in metal fabrication services removes or trims unwanted material by mounting two blades above and under the metal that procures a single long and straight cut, generally in smaller lengths of different shapes. 
  • Stamping: This is an example of a metal fabrication service similar to punching described above. The difference is that stamping creates an indentation instead of a hole. It is done through either hydraulic or mechanical means on metal sheets measuring up to 1/4 inch thick and formed into exact shapes and sizes. 
  • Welding: Welding is considered an art in metal fabrication services. This process combines two or more metal pieces by combining heat and pressure into various shapes or sizes. 

Are there different machinery and technologies used in metal fabrication services? 

Metal fabrication services are nothing new; the industry has existed since ancient times. What is new is how it is done. The days of a blacksmith using a hammer are done today using complex machinery, technologies, and scientific achievements. The following are some of the machinery and technologies that are used: 

  • Lathe
  • Tube and Pipe Benders
  • Drilling Machines
  • Milling Machines
  • Hobbing Machines
  • CNC Technology
  • Grinders
  • Honing Machines

In Closing

Various metals are used in metal fabrication services based on the intended end purpose and desired results, including aluminum, magnesium, sheet metal, steel, and welding wire. Three steps are involved in the metal fabrication process, each with multiple components. The general steps are: 

  • Step 1. The design is done either by computer-aided design software or, on rare occasions, on paper. 
  • Step 2. Fabrication is done by working with the raw materials using the abovementioned processes. 
  • Step 3. Finish and assemble the small parts from step 2 and add any needed finishing touches. 

The next time you take your children to the park, use a grocery cart or even get in your car to go to the park or store, know that metal fabrication services were involved. And if you’re interested in metal fabrication services in Norco and New Orleans, LA, the team at Cajun Comfort  is available to help you learn more. Call us at 985-764-8191 today.