Why Choose Radshape for your Metal Fabrication requirements?
Either from supplied drawing or when a client comes to us with a concept, our CAD/CAM department can turn that concept into a detailed 3D plan. Working with a range of materials including brass, steel and aluminium enables us to produce every type of component, from delicate high precision automotive parts to large scale items like fuel tanks, cabinets and body panels.
Whether a component is strictly functional in nature or has to be aesthetically pleasing as well makes no difference, our services have been delivering results for prestige motor vehicle manufacturers for many years.
Using whichever of our facilities is needed, we can create diverse products ranging from brackets, chassis, crash barriers and oil tanks to visually stunning
badges and brightware.
What is meant by Metal Fabrication?
Metal fabrication is the practice of creating metal structures through cutting, bending, and assembling their parts. The term tends to describe work with a number of types of sheet metal or plate metal, though it encompasses a wide range of activities. Overall, metal fabrication is a value-adding process, since it turns raw metal into a product or structure.
The type of metal used by sheet metal fabrication services is typically determined by the desired strength, cost, ease of use, and welding properties. Stainless steel sheets are commonly used because they resist corrosion; steel also changes its strength depending on its alloy, which makes steel fabrication even more practical. Aluminium fabrication is also popular because it can be easily cut, is relatively lightweight, and is non-magnetic, whilst aluminised steel (steel coated in aluminium) is also often used due to its high-temperature tolerance.
Fabrication can largely be categorised as being used for industrial, commercial, and structural purposes. Industrial fabrication encompasses the production of large-scale items that require cutting or welding together multiple pieces of metal, such as ships and cars. Commercial metal fabrication deals with smaller-scale production of items, typically used within commercial settings, like storefronts, fences or signs. Finally, structural metal fabrication is the production of building materials like I-beams and trusses for use in commercial construction.
What happens during the fabrication process?
Whilst the particular steps of a fabrication process will be specific to the requirements of an end product, a basic fabrication process will often take shape in the following order:
The first step in the fabrication process is to cut the metal into specific shapes using various saws, including circular saws and shears. These machines are specifically designed to work on thick pieces of metal without deforming them.
The next step in the fabrication process is to bend the metal into its shape. There are several ways of doing this, but the most commonly used method is press brakes. These tools apply pressure on specific points of the metal to make it bend where desired without deforming the surrounding areas.
The last step in fabrication is to drill holes and connect all pieces together. Metal Assembly can be done with bolts, rivets, or by welding the metal together.