Did you know that in 2020 global stainless steel production was measured at just under 50.9 million metric tons?
This amount of production shows that stainless steel is the perfect material for a wide number of applications. Stainless steel is easily bent, curved, welded, and machined.
Many companies take the raw material and turn it into custom parts for every imaginable project. Read on below to get the basics of stainless steel fabrication and what you absolutely need to know.
Skills That Are Required
Taking raw materials and turning them into a custom part is no easy feat, and there are a few basic skills needed before you can start to think of the final part.
Laser Cutting
Providing extreme precision, laser cutting is a fairly new innovation that fabricators have adopted in the last few years. Laser cutting allows the fabricator to be extremely precise, have faster cutting speeds, and have the same cut each time. The laser is controlled by a computer, and the fabricator has to design what needs to be done on that computer. Hardly any mistakes occur, and are by far the best tool a fabricator can use today.
There are a few downsides to laser cutting mainly, you are limited to the thickness you can cut through, the fabricator needs a high level of expertise in the software used, the laser can produce dangerous fumes, so a well ventilated or powerful extractor unit is required, and a laser cutter is expensive so the upfront costs of buying a machine are usually not practical for most businesses.
Flame Cutting
As the name suggests, flame-cutting uses a hot torch that cuts right through the bare metal. Through the torch, a mixture of oxygen and varied types of gases are used, which creates the flame. Flame cutting isn’t as accurate as laser cutting, but depending on the table, and torch can be anywhere between 0.062 and 0.5 in. Flame cutting is the oldest method of cutting steel and dates back to 1901.
How good a cut will be can be down to how skilled the operator is, so the accuracy can vary quite a bit, making it not a very popular choice among fabricators. Thin metal can’t generally be cut with the torch, which is a negative point.
Friction Sawing
In friction sawing, a circular blade does the cutting at a much higher speed than conventional saw methods. The idea is instead of the saw cutting away bits of material, the high speed of the blade causes friction heat and softens the surface of the material to the point of melting.
Friction saws cut through the thickest of metals and have very few parameters. The low cost and ease of maintaining a saw make it a popular choice in the fabricating world.
Precision Bending
Bending is another critical step in the fabrication process. As the name applies, bending of the material needs to be done to get the desired shape.
A fabricator uses many different tools, such as a press brake and rolling machines. Bending is a complex process and requires a highly skilled fabricator.
Precision Punching
Punching takes place when a hole has to be created in sheet metal. A punch and die are made from hard metal and use sheer force to perforate a hole in the desired diameter.
Different machine shops all have a maximum diameter at which a hole can be punched.
Precision Welding
Welding takes place in the final stages of stainless steel fabrication. Welding is joining two pieces of metal together and making it a single part. Welding creates a metallurgical bond between the pieces, strongly binding them together.
In stainless steel fabrication, the most popular welding techniques are TIG welding and Arch welding. Both are used varyingly, depending on the desired outcome of the welder.
Surface Finishing
The finishing of a custom project can make or break the outcome for a fabricator. Generally, sheet metal has to be finished off to make it aesthetically pleasing. The ways in which metal can be finished are by sandblasting, buff polishing, powder coating, anodizing, and chemical films. Each method varies and has its own finished look about it.
Stainless steel isn’t always finished, as the bright and shiny metal look is what people are after. Usually, the only finishing that takes is a buff and polish of the metal.
Benefits Of Stainless Steel Fabrication
Using the right techniques means stainless steel can be molded into almost any shape for industrial use. There is, however, a range of other benefits from using stainless steel, such as:
1. Promotes Durability And Adds Long-term Value
Stainless steel is an extremely durable product that is resistant to corrosion while it remains tensile.
The initial cost and maintenance costs are very low, meaning you get great returns when choosing it as your material of choice.
2. Sustainability And Safety
Stainless steel is fully recyclable, so once its run its use on one project, it can be recycled for something else, which is good for the environment.
Being both resistant to fire and water, stainless steel is a safe metal that has saved lives.
3. Cost Efficient
This is a cost-effective metal produced throughout the world, making it easy to obtain for a wide range of applications.
There’s probably not much more important to a foreman than trying to stay under budget.
4. Aids With Hygiene
Stainless steel is easy to clean and sanitize.
Bacteria and grime struggle to establish themselves on the exterior, making it a popular choice in kitchens and hospitals.
5. Aesthetic appearance:
With its bright and shiny exterior, stainless steel has a modern appearance, making it popular in modern household designs.
People place a high value on things that help them construct their home, but also don’t become eyesores and can be blended into the design they’re hoping for, in fact, the same goes for commercial buildings too.
Stainless Steel Is A Step Above
Taking all the factors into account, one can see why stainless steel fabrication is so popular and most people’s first choice when creating a custom, one-of-a-kind piece.
Do you have any projects on the go that need experts in stainless steel? Get a hold of our team today and watch your project come to life!