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Every year, their new buildings are constructed. The need for metal fabrication services is more significant than ever. The fact is that these services are regarded as an essential contribution to any construction project.
Companies that offer metal fabrication services are varied. You can come across many in your local area. Benefits can vary depending on the metal fabrication company.
Here we provide a guide to help you choose the best metal fabrication company in your area.
Read on to learn more.
Factors to Consider When Selecting a Metal Fabrication Company
Metal fabrication companies are not equal. There are many factors to consider when selecting the right company to work with your project. Some of these include the experience level, the type of metal used, and the location.
Customer Service
First and foremost, you’ll want to ensure that the company you’re considering has a solid reputation for delivering high-quality work.
Take the time to read online reviews and talk to other businesses who have worked with the company in the past to get a sense of their level of quality and customer service.
Experience
Some companies have been in business for decades and have a large customer base. They can provide references and examples of previous work to help you decide if they are the right company for your project.
Make sure they are experienced with the metal you need, like steel fabrication. Many companies specialize in certain types of metals. Ask if they have a metal fabrication department and if they can provide samples of all the types of metal fabrication they’ve done.
Certifications and Standards
Certifications are a stamp of quality work.
Companies that are certified by organizations like the American Institute of Steel Construction (AISC), American Welding Society (AWS), American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME), or the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) should have a skilled workforce and experience.
Some metal fabrication companies are certified, which means they have passed inspection by an expert body, and their work is of high quality.
Equipment and Resources
The firm you select should employ the latest metal design and production technologies. The company should also have highly-precision automation capabilities such as programmable machines. The higher the extent of automation, the smaller the likelihood of costly quality control errors.
Financial Stability
Your project may need many specialists, large-scale production, or innovative manufacturing technologies. A corporation can only meet such standards with strong financial standing.
Basics of Metal Fabrication and the Unique Processes
Metal fabrication is a process that involves the shaping of metal. It can be done by cutting, molding, casting, or assembling metal pieces.
Here are some of the metal fabrication processes that your project might need.
Metal Cutting
Metal cutting is frequently the initial stage in a lengthier process. Lasers, power scissors, plasma arcs, and water jets can all be used to cut. Die-cutting is stamping metal using a die to cut precise forms.
Shearing
When materials are too small or difficult to cut, they are sheared off by cutting tools placed above and below the metal.
Metal Drawing
Drawing is the process of stretching the metal into a thinner shape. Sheet metal pieces that will be formed into hollow cylinders or box-shaped get their shape through deep drawing.
Metal Extrusion
Extrusion involves hot and cold operations and yields either a single extended component or a string of smaller parts. A metal slug or cylinder may also flow through or around a die. As a result, enlarging it.
Folding or Bending
Utilizing pressure from a punch and die, metal is bent or wrinkled at an angle. Some fabricators use folders, which are bending machines.
Forging
Cold forging is the process of shaping metal at room temperature using compressive force. Hot forging involves forging metal that has been heated to a temperature above room temperature and below the recrystallization temperature.
Welding
Welding is the welding of two or more metal parts together. Welders employ a variety of techniques, including:
- Stick, or Shielded Metal Arc Welding (SMAW)
- Metal Inert Gas (MIG) Welding
- Tungsten Inert Gas Welding (TIG)
- Flux Cord Arc Welding (FCAW)
Metal Casting
The casting technique uses a mold or die and enables it to cool and solidify. The metal then conforms to the shape of the die, making mass manufacturing of consistent components simple. Casting is used in mass manufacturing projects because it can produce similar shapes indefinitely.
Most metals can be melted and poured into molds, but aluminum is an exception. Aluminum can be rolled, drawn out in wires, extruded on a spindle to produce tubes or rods, and cast in sand molds.
Different casting techniques include
- Die Casting
- Mold Casting
- Sand Casting
Machining
Drilling, turning, and milling may form metal and alloys. Using a rotary cutting instrument, drilling entails making a hole. As metal is hung on a lathe, metal is removed using a cutting tool to produce a cylinder-shaped object.
Punching
A metal workpiece with holes for attaching can be made via punching, as can blanks cut out of the metal on a press. Turret punches are available in manual, CNC, and CNC (computer numerical control) operated models.
Fastening or Riveting
Rivets are put into punched or drilled holes, and the pin separates to hold metal pieces.
Stamping
Raised lettering, forms, or images are sometimes required on metal surfaces.
Does your project include more advanced techniques? Click for more information here.
Choose the Best Metal Fabrication Company for Your Needs
When looking for a metal fabrication company, consider the size and scope of your project and the company’s experience and reputation.
Make sure to get quotes from several companies before deciding, and always ask for references. Once you’ve found the right company for your project, sign a contract that includes all the details of the work to be done.
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