Metal fabrication is the process of cutting, shaping, assembling, and finishing metal parts to create structures, machines, or components. It involves a variety of techniques and processes, including:
- Cutting: Metal is cut into desired shapes using methods such as shearing, sawing, or more advanced techniques like laser cutting, plasma cutting, or waterjet cutting.
- Forming: This process involves shaping metal through bending, rolling, or stamping. Forming can be done with manual tools or large industrial machines.
- Welding: Welding joins metal pieces together by melting the edges and adding filler material. Common welding techniques include MIG (Metal Inert Gas), TIG (Tungsten Inert Gas), and stick welding.
- Machining: Machining removes material from a metal piece to create the desired shape or surface finish. This is done using tools like lathes, mills, and drills.
- Assembling: Assembling involves putting together various metal parts to create a final product. This can include riveting, welding, and other fastening methods.
- Finishing: After the metal parts are assembled, finishing processes like polishing, painting, or powder coating are applied to improve the appearance and protect the metal from corrosion.
Metal fabrication is used in a wide range of industries, including automotive, aerospace, construction, and manufacturing, to create products ranging from small components to large structures.