Metal fabrication is part of your everyday life, even if you don’t realize it. In short, it’s the process of taking raw metal and flattening, bending, shaping and welding it to make structures, components and machines. There are a number of different metal fabrication processes in Phoenix, AZ, which can produce significantly different results depending on the metal and the desired finished product. The following is an overview of what metal fabrication entails and what each process might be used for.

There are three major types of processes in metal fabrication: cutting, bending and assembling.

Cutting

There are a number of different cutting processes, including sawing, shearing, torching and chiseling. Sawing is the oldest method, and is exactly what it sounds like—using a saw to cut and separate metal sheets according to a specific design or plan—but today, we also have laser cutting, plasma and oxy-fuel torches and even water jet cutting options.

Cutting can be done manually or with power tools like die cutters, but there are also computer-operated cutting processes (CNC machines) that will do precise work automatically. At Metal Pro Inc., we offer shearing, sawing, plasma cutting and flame cutting, among other cutting processes, and can help you decide which method is right for your raw materials and desired end product.

Bending

Bending the metal is how the cut metal is then formed into the appropriate shape. Hammering is a popular method, which can be done manually, or through the use of power tools. Press brakes are also very popular tools for bending sheet metal—they clamp a piece of sheet metal between two C-frames on either side, then use a punch and die to form bends in the sheet metal. They can be mechanical, hydraulic or pneumatic, allowing the machine to exert quite a bit of force for a precise bend in even the most stubborn or strong metals.

Assembling

Finally, assembling processes include welding, fastening (often with implements like rivets or bolts) and adhesives.

Welding is by far the most popular way of assembling sheet metal parts and components together, and there are a variety of different welding types. Certain metals or thicknesses only work with specific welding types—for example, TIG welding can bond conventional types of metal like aluminum, steel, alloys and nickel of varying thicknesses, whereas plasma welding works on metals 0.015 inches thick, such as in aerospace engineering capacities.

Choosing the right metal fabrication processes for your specific project and materials is crucial to your ultimate success, so if you’re not sure which approach to use, ask an expert.

Metal fabrication in Phoenix, AZ

Metal Pro Inc. has offered high quality metal fabrication services to the Phoenix area since 2000. Our shop can handle any type of project, no matter its size or scope—we have skilled, experienced staff and cutting-edge fabrication equipment to get the job done. From drafting to assembly, we can help you get the job done right. Call us today for an estimate and to learn more.