Metal fabrication involves the construction of machines and structures from various raw materials. The metal fabrication process typically involves drawings with precise measurements, the fabrication stage and finally the installation of the final project. Larger fabrication shops are able to offer increased value to their customers by including welding, cutting, forming and machining in one shop. This eliminates the need for extra personnel and the use of multiple vendors for different services.
Typical fabrication projects handled by fabrication shops include loose parts, structural frames for buildings and heavy equipment and hand railings and stairs for buildings. Raw materials used in metal fabrication include:
- Plate metal
- Formed and expanded metal
- Welding wire and welding rods
- Hardware
- Castings
- Fittings
These raw materials must be cut to the proper size. The most common way to cut the raw material is by shearing, but other tools might be used such as band saws, cutting torches, plasma and laser cutting tables and water jet cutters. The fabrication of structural steel by plasma and laser cutting utilizes robots to move the cutting head in three dimensions around the materials being cut.
The main focus of steel fabrication is welding. Formed and machined parts are typically assembled and then tack welded into place. They are then rechecked for accuracy and the welding is completed. Special precautions are sometimes necessary to prevent warping of the weldment due to the intense heat involved with the process. Experienced welders can prevent and remove significant warping with heat that is selectively applied in a slow, linear sweep.
Most fabrication shops have a specialty process that they develop or invest in based on their expertise and their individual customer’s needs. Common fabrication specialties include:
- Brazing
- Casting
- Chipping
- Drawing
- Extrusion
- Forging
- Heat treatment
- Hydroforming
- Oven soldering
- Plastic fabrication
- Powder metallurgy
- Powder coating
- Punching
- Shearing
- Spinning
- English wheeling
- Welding
- Electrical
- Hydraulics
- Prototyping/machine design/technical drawing
- Sub contract manufacturing
Bay Industrial Group specializes in creating solutions to solve the many complex manufacturing challenges faced by manufacturing companies today. Bay Industrial Group’s team of experienced project managers, fabricators and automation designers work hand in hand to find and create the perfect solution for a variety of different industries. Bay Industrial Group’s expert staff works out of a state of the art 22,000 square foot facility. The welding and fabrication shop area covers 15,000 square feet and allows for welding, fabrication, assembly, set-up and testing of large equipment and systems.
For more information about Bay Industrial Group’s welding and fabrication capabilities please contact them today.