Articles Archives | Page 6 of 18

25 Jan

The Most Common Press Brake Mistakes To Avoid

Press brake machine operators must be highly trained, vigilant, and capable of making accurate calculations and observations about the press brake machine and the work it produces. Yet even the most experienced metal fabrication workers can make mistakes. The most common press brake mistakes to avoid can happen when a shop is under pressure to meet a deadline, when operators are fatigued, or when shop managers allow complacency to set in. Press brakes are complex and expensive machines that require [...]

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25 Jan

The Differences Between Aluminum vs. Steel Fabrication

Neither steel nor aluminum exists as useable metals in nature. Aluminum—element 13 on the periodic table—is the most abundant metal on the planet, but extracting it and turning it into metal is an energy-intensive process. Steel is an alloy of iron and carbon formed by heating iron with coke and limestone, burning off oxygen and excess carbon. The two metals look similar: they’re both silver-grey and shiny. The differences between aluminum and steel fabrication illustrate how manufacturers used these metals [...]

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24 Jan

The Benefits of Custom Sheet Metal Bending Services

Metal fabrication machinery can turn out hundreds, even thousands, of identical parts efficiently. Machines can make precision cuts repeatedly with computer guidance, roll steel into tubes and cut them into exacting lengths, and can achieve near-perfect angles by bending sheet metal. Sometimes, however, a unique piece or an innovative design requires the creativity to make a one-of-a-kind or previously unheard-of piece. Or a builder, architect, or designer may simply need a metal piece in an unusual size or configuration. Learn [...]

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20 Dec

The Most Common Types of Steel for Metal Fabrication

Steel has become ubiquitous in American life. Most people recognize structural steel when they see skyscrapers under construction. We can find stainless steel in our dining utensils and appliances. And carbon steel is often used to create lightweight yet strong bicycle frames. Steel is made of iron and carbon. Different types of steel have different percentages of iron and carbon and other additives that form alloys. Here are three of the most common types of steel for metal fabrication. Learn [...]

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20 Dec

5 Custom Sheet Metal Fabrication Techniques

Metal fabrication shops manipulate sheet metal in many different ways to create the sizes, shapes, and appearances their customers desire. Anytime these operations cut metal to specific measurements, they are preparing a customized product. They commonly use these five custom sheet metal fabrication techniques to produce the required metal forms. Rolling In its most fundamental form, the metals that fabricators work with begin as ingots—large rectangular chunks of metal. To create sheet metal, metalworkers use machinery that feeds these ingots through [...]

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09 Dec

Tips for Reducing Energy Waste in Manufacturing

All businesses benefit from energy efficiency. Sustainable practices reduce costs and boost brand value among consumers and clients. Energy conservation and reducing carbon emissions are global imperatives. Sustainability is not only best for business, but it’s also necessary for our survival on a warming planet. According to the US Energy Information Administration (EIA), industry accounts for 36 percent of US energy use, and manufacturing concerns accounted for 81 percent of industrial energy consumption in 2021. Reducing energy waste in manufacturing [...]

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08 Dec

The Differences Between Welding and Metal Fabrication

While welding and metal fabrication are related, they’re not the same. Welding is a form of metal fabrication, but not all metal fabrication involves welding. Here are the differences between welding and metal fabrication. What Defines Welding? Welding is a process that joins separate parts to make a single whole. Welding typically uses heat to melt metals or consumable rods that fill in the space between two pieces of metal to fuse them together. Other forms of welding use electricity and [...]

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08 Dec

Ways To Market Your Metal Fabrication Business

Many businesses thrive on referrals and a reputation for excellent service. But if clients don’t know you’d appreciate a referral, and no one knows about your shop’s stellar reputation, these things won’t translate into growth. Learn ways to market your metal fabrication business here. Optimize Your Online Presence Prospective purchasers of goods and services start by looking for what they need online. Businesses that need metal fabrication work know what kind of business they need. What they want to know is [...]

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16 Nov

Fiber Laser Cutters vs. Plasma Cutters: 6 Key Differences

Versatility enables metal fabrication operations to take on a greater variety of work without sacrificing productivity, quality, or time. New computer-controlled metalworking equipment provides precision, speed, and flexibility, so shops can accept a wider range of work. Along with selecting press brakes and beam coping machines, most shops face a choice of fiber laser cutters vs. plasma cutters. Six key differences can help you determine if you should invest in one or the other, or both, types of machines. Evolution of [...]

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16 Nov

What You Should Know About Welding in Space

Since the beginning of the space age, engineers have devised ways to complete spacecraft construction and repairs that would work in the vacuum of space. The International Space Station was assembled from parts sent into orbit separately. Astronauts repaired the flawed Hubble telescope. NASA has even developed a special handheld laser to perform welds in tight spaces in zero gravity. What you should know about welding in space includes how to cope with zero gravity, how to select techniques that [...]

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