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What Is Metal Fabrication?

Metal Fabrication refers to the transformation of raw material into a defined structure using certain tools and processes. The latter can usually be split into cutting, bending, and assembling or welding. It is a value-added process, meaning it turns raw metal into further project additions over time.

Metal Fabrication encompasses three main procedures: cutting, bending and assembling. As the name may suggest, cutting involves breaking down metal sheets into smaller parts that a fabricator can manipulate to meet the needs of a project.
 
Bending refers to the way fabricators can manipulate metal through force, with a hammer or heavier machines such as press brakes. Tube benders also provide a cylindrical shape if needed.
 
Welding is the use of high temperatures to seamlessly fuse metal. Tungsten Inert Gas Welding provides a weld with a lower chance of needlessly distorting the metal, and Metal Inert Gas Welding provides additional cost-effectiveness and speed.

Metal Fabrication and Processing relies on a lot of common tools, with simple solutions like saws and chisels used to cut metal and hammers used to deform it. It also employs specialist machinery designed for these rigorous tasks.
 
Though the old ways can easily work well with cutting, sometimes more high-tech answers are required. This need has been met by the development of laser and plasma cutters; they utilise accelerated bursts of lasers or high-temperature plasma to cut metal.
 
The Press Brake bends metal, using the material’s ductility to shape it with a ‘punch’. This can be hydraulic, electric, mechanical, or even pneumatic. The hydraulic variant is best for extreme bends, and the pneumatic version is usually used for less intense deformations.

While fabricators use both in a litany of metal projects, aluminium and steel are different enough to warrant serious consideration about which is better for the job at hand. As you can imagine, they each have a place in Metal Fabrication – but it again depends on the project.
 
Aluminium is more ductile than steel, making it easier to bend. On top of this, aluminium is around 1/3rd of the weight of steel. This makes it easier to manipulate and shape to specification – but it does mean that steel has higher durability that could serve it well in many contexts.
 
Aluminium is also resistant to corrosion and scratches that emerge during the processes, in contrast to non-stainless steel. There are many factors to be aware of (and neither can be called a clear winner) but the right material will always be used for the job.

If your project involves shaping metal, then in all likelihood it would benefit from the presence of a dedicated fabricator. They are experts in cutting, bending, and welding the material to the right specifications, and have all of the right tools to get the job done.
 
On the Spot Steel Fabrication has been in business for over a decade now, and our Sunshine Coast clients trust us to ensure their project is fabricated to the highest standard. For more information on our services and a free quote, contact us today.