{"id":5733,"date":"2020-02-06T17:45:19","date_gmt":"2020-02-06T14:45:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/fractory.com\/?p=5733"},"modified":"2024-01-26T15:54:10","modified_gmt":"2024-01-26T13:54:10","slug":"common-metal-fabrication-processes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/fractory.com\/common-metal-fabrication-processes\/","title":{"rendered":"Common Metal Fabrication Processes"},"content":{"rendered":"

Producing metal parts includes many different methods of metal manipulation. The selection of processes depends on the required end result as well as the type of metal, its shape, etc.<\/p>\n

There are even 2 categories of fabrication based on shape – metal fabrication and sheet metal fabrication<\/a>. While the first includes all the fabrication techniques, the second excludes others like CNC machining<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The list of metal fabrication processes is extremely long as it includes a variety of surface finishing operations, machining, cutting, etc. Still, we can say that there are a few select ones that dominate over the others as the most widely spread techniques.<\/p>\n

Metal Processing<\/h2>\n

Here are some of the more common methods to transform a single workpiece into a desired part.<\/p>\n

Laser Cutting<\/h3>\n

\"Laser<\/p>\n

Laser cutting services<\/a> beat others by a long way in popularity today. The reason lies with this cutting method’s versatility, precision, price, speed, etc.<\/p>\n

This cutting method utilises the laser’s ability to melt all kinds of metals, including mild steel<\/a>, stainless steel, etc. As the laser beam is narrow and hot enough to perform a cut in a quick fashion, it also provides a nice clean cutting kerf<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The possibility of getting a great output without any extra treatment makes laser cutting a cost-efficient option when looking to cut metal.<\/p>\n

Other Thermal Cutting Methods<\/h3>\n

Both plasma and flame cutting have its place. The majority of their importance lies with their ability to cut really thick metals. Flame cutting is suitable for plates up to 150 mm thick.<\/p>\n

Plasma cutting<\/a> is the step in between of laser and flame cutting. Still, the evolution of lasers is bringing the constantly closer to plasma, eating away at its market share.<\/p>\n

Waterjet Cutting<\/h3>\n

Another way to cut really thick metal but without any heating. Waterjet cutting eats away the metal using a stream of high-pressure water with some added abrasives.<\/p>\n

This way of cutting ensures that there is no heat affected zone<\/a>. As the HAZ brings along a series of changes in the metal structure, it makes the reliability of the part hard to determine. Waterjet cutting eliminates this uncertainty and the danger it brings along.<\/p>\n

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\n Scale Your Manufacturing from Prototyping to Series<\/span>\n\n