Understanding The Process Of Custom Fabrication

From mall-pop ups to branded trade show booths to unique hospitality interiors, brand custom fabrication is having something of a moment. But with a wide range of materials, digital technologies, and fabrication options available, it can be challenging to find the right partner for your needs. Whether you need an industrial solution or want to create something utterly original, understanding the process of Custom Material, Inc will help you ask better questions and get what you need.

Metal Fabrication

Essentially, metal fabrication is the process of taking raw steel or other flat metals and altering them into the shapes of products, structures, or components that adhere to specific design requirements. It's used in construction, automotive and aerospace manufacturing, consumer product creation, robotics, foodservice equipment, and more. Metal fabrication is often done using bending, welding, machining and assembly.

The first step in any fabrication process is to prepare the raw stock. Depending on the project, this could mean cutting it to size or cleaning it up. It also may involve shearing the material to achieve a certain thickness or to provide an even surface for welding. Rolling is a common method of forming the metal into desired shapes, and it can be accomplished through cold or hot rolling. Cold rolling is usually used to form cylinders and curves, while hot rolling is normally used to make straight or angled structures.

When the initial preparation is done, the metal is ready for fabrication. This involves determining the type of metal and its specific properties. For example, if a particular part must fit together with another piece, the engineers in charge of the project will need to make sure that the ring to be placed around a boiler cylinder matches both the cylinder's outer diameter and its inner lid's diameter. If the wrong ring is chosen, it can lead to leaks or even chemical reactions between the two metals.

Once the metal is in the proper shape, it's prepared for a series of fabrication steps that could include cutting, shearing, laser cutting, plasma cutting, notching, machining, drilling, stamping, shaping, and welding. It's common for a single part to require several of these processes, and some projects might even involve novel combinations of them.

Plastics fabrication is a similarly versatile method of creating custom-designed products, structures, and components. The possibilities for this form of fabrication are nearly limitless, with the only limits being the imagination and requirements of the final product. In addition to bending and molding, the edges of plastics can be finished in many different ways, including saw cut, machine polished, flame polished, hand polished, or beveled. This allows for a customized finish that's perfect for the intended use of the product or structure. This is particularly important for custom products that need to look high-quality and professional. The right finishing can also help a product stand out in a crowd of similar products or competitors.