Projections show that the global structural steel fabrication market will reach a value of $199.31 billion by 2027.
All kinds of industries rely on steel parts and products and therefore rely on steel fabrication services. The capabilities of a fabrication service will determine the quality of final products, so it is important to know what steel fabrication involves so that you can make the best decision.
For a rundown of steel fabrication, keep reading.
What Is Fabrication
Fabrication is a process that takes raw materials and transforms them into a final product. This final product could be a stand-alone item or part of a larger assembly.
This is possible with various materials but is most common for metals and alloys. There are many different fabrication processes, with differing final applications.
These processes are only carried out by skilled technicians to ensure the final product meets the needs of the client purchasing it. There is usually very little room for error, so accuracy is an essential part of any fabrication process.
Fabrication is almost always carried out in an industrial setting, and the final products can meet very precise specifications.
Primary Manufacturing
This involves creating semi-finished products such as sheets, tubes, bars, and plates. These are simple parts that are then fabricated to produce final products.
Primary manufacturing consists of processes such as forging, casting, rolling, and sintering. All of these are done in mills and foundries.
Secondary Manufacturing
This has the same meaning as "fabrication" in which the parts made in primary manufacturing are then welded, bent, cut, etc. to give the desired product.
In general, these processes are done in machine shops/fab shops but are sometimes also done on-site.
Types Of Metal Fabrication
There are many different fabrication processes. When a manufacturer is given a part to create, the types of fabrication used will depend on the material as well as the purpose and specifications of the final product.
Welding
Welding is a process that joining pieces or parts together. Woods and plastics are sometimes welded, but it is quite rare. The majority of welding jobs are on metals such as steel.
Depending on the intended results, a very high degree of precision may be required. All welding should only be done by qualified professionals, not just to ensure accuracy and quality, but also safety.
Welding tools can reach incredibly high temperatures, and produce harmful amounts of light. Without the proper training and protective equipment, there is a high chance of injury occurring.
Swenson Welding is a specialist that offers various types of welding to meet all needs. On top of in-house welding at our steel fabrication shop, we have a fully equipped mobile welding service, so we can come out to you if the job requires on-site welding.
Our skilled welders are fully trained and qualified. We have plenty of experience in welding for many purposes such as:
- Structural applications
- Stairs and railings
- Amusement park rides
Machining
Special equipment makes it possible to shave away parts of metal pieces to create a specified shape. This involves various processes:
- Drilling - creating holes in a workpiece
- Boring - cutting material from an internal diameter within a workpiece to increase the size and accuracy of a hole
- Threading - cutting spiral grooves into the external of a workpiece
- Milling - making complex shapes by moving the tool across the part
- Turning - removing external material from the part by rotating it and using a cutting tool
Cutting
As the name suggests, this involves cutting parts and can be achieved in several ways.
Laser cutting is the most accurate method, giving a precise, clean cut. Lasers can cut through materials quickly and produce complex parts, making it one of the best choices for high-quality products.
Oxy-fuel or flame cutting uses a gas flame to cut through the steel. It is one of the most efficient methods and can be done using computers, or manually.
High temperatures can cause issues with some metals, in which case waterjet cutting may be more suitable. It uses a high-pressure jet of water to cut through soft or hard metals and can be done underwater to avoid making a mess.
Plasma cutting is a modern method that works using a spout of gas and an electric arc that combine to create plasma. Potential gasses include oxygen, nitrogen, and argon.
The metal is heated and blown away quickly, providing a clean cut. This is similar to laser cutting but is not quite as accurate.
Other Methods
These are some of the most popular fabrication techniques, but there are many others. Some more common fabrication processes include:
- Forming
- Punching
- Forging
- Casting
- Drawing
- Extrusion
- Stamping
Types Of Steel
Steel is an alloy of iron and carbon. Typically the carbon content is below 3%, but various other alloying elements are sometimes added to give different characteristics. There are four main types of steel available.
Carbon Steel
This comes in three variations - low, medium, and high carbon steel, depending on the carbon content (.03%, 0.6%, and 1.5% respectively). They generally contain almost no other alloying elements.
Carbon steels are very strong, and as such are often used for automotive parts, high-tension wires, and knives.
Alloy Steel
These tend to contain multiple other elements such as copper, nickel, and aluminum. They are often inexpensive and have good corrosion resistance, making them suitable for pipelines, ship hulls, and certain car parts.
Tool Steel
Tool steels are very hard, durable, and heat resistant, hence why they are used to make tools. Typical elements within these are cobalt, tungsten, and molybdenum.
Stainless Steel
The most well-known type, containing about 10-20 percent chromium. These are corrosion-resistant and very easy to fabricate. Common uses include silverware, medical equipment, and home applications.
Professional Steel Fabrication
The team at Swenson Welding are some of the best welders and fabricators around. If you are after any kind of steel fabrication in New Jersey, we've got you covered.
If you want to know more about the services we offer and how we can help you, click here to contact us today.
