Custom Fabrication

How Custom Fabrication Works

Metal fabrication is a wide term regarding any process that cuts, shapes or molds metal material into a final product. Stock metal, including sheet metal, metal rods and metal bars, are available in a spread of material and dimensional specs. In addition, most fabrication shops can produce metal materials in a wide variety of sizes and styles. However, if constructors require an uncommon component or unique metal product, custom fabrication can offer both layout and production help for these custom components.

Custom Fabrication Offerings
Custom fabrication services can be beneficial in all stages of the product development. Whether you require a whole production of materials or assistance on a production, you may see the following forms of custom offerings useful:

• Design: the conceptualization, creation, or analysis of a specific component or product features.
• Build: the actual production of the metal material.
• Completing and Constructing: the development of product quality through post-fabrication treatments.
  

Custom Design Offerings
Manufacturing a completely unique product often calls for significant design and planning. Insufficient guidance can produce a custom metal fabrication with structural weaknesses, mistaken dimensions, or different unwanted attributes that could weaken quality. To make sure of optimal results, consider these custom design services:

• Conceptualizing: supplying a standard idea of ways a product must appear and which functions (power, versatility, appearance, etc) are critical, conceptualization help can help determine the exact components or fabric traits essential to perform the project.
• Computer-aided design (CAD): CAD applications provide manufacturers with a pc-generated three-dimensional representation in their product. Inputting designs directly into a CAD software program will demonstrate potential structural weaknesses before going to real production.
• Tooling Design: custom fabricators also can help with designing custom production tools.

Custom Manufacturing Services
As soon as a product has been designed, the production can begin. Deciding on a fabrication process suitable to a particular project relies upon geometric design, the product’s purpose, and the material utilized in crafting it. Some prevalent custom metal fabrication processes includes:

• Casting: hot liquid metal is poured into a mould and allowed to cool and harden.
• Drawing: tensile force is used to pull molten metal into a tapered die.
• Forging: pressure is applied to deform and shape the metal.
• Extrusion: a ram feeds billets via a die, generating cylindrical products, which includes wiring and pipes.
• Punching: uniquely formed turrets punch the metal to create cosmetic indention or characteristics.
• Welding: two or more pieces of metal are combined together, through a combination of heat and stress.
• Drilling: round holes are drilled into the metal with a drill bit.
• Milling: non-round holes are cut into the metal using a milling system.
• Turning: the metal piece is circled on its axis while a slicing tool shapes the material.

Custom Finishing and Meeting Offerings
Some custom fabrication require secondary finishing treatments to achieve their planned specifications. Assembly services may also be necessary for combining two or more components into a single functional unit. Common secondary custom metal fabrication services include adhesive bonding, bolting deburring, grinding, riveting, screwing, sawing, and painting.