When it comes to creating the perfect parts for your manufacturing business, it’s important to decide whether you want to use metal stamping or metal fabrication techniques. This decision could greatly affect the quality of your product as well as the cost to produce it. Be sure to consider both options carefully, as they each have their own advantages and disadvantages. Read on to learn more about metal stamping and metal fabrication. Once you know more about both these techniques, it’ll be easy to pick the right one for your needs.
What is metal fabrication?
Metal fabrication is used to create products through the use of cutting, bending and assembly. The process utilizes both machinery and human labor to cut and shape parts. Tools required for the metal fabrication process often include CNC laser cutters and CNC press brakes. Welding is also heavily used during metal fabrication.
What is metal stamping?
During the metal stamping process, several techniques may be used to create an object, including stamping, bending, stretching and folding. A flat sheet of metal is placed into a stamping press, which shapes the object. Commercial, construction, HVAC, firearm and many other industries utilize metal stamping to create parts. Additionally, manufacturers can use a multitude of different materials to create products through metal stamping, including cold rolled steel, brass, hot rolled steel, nickel and many more.
Advantages and disadvantages of metal fabrication
Many manufacturers utilize metal fabrication because it allows more flexibility when creating parts. This is because the process utilizes many different production techniques. Through the use of metal fabrication, metal parts can be customized to almost any specification. This process also usually provides shorter production times and lower costs.
That said, metal fabrication usually takes longer compared to metal stamping. Products made through metal fabrication often need extra work following the fabrication process, including deburring, finishing and painting. The tools needed for metal fabrication are also expensive.
Advantages and disadvantages of metal stamping
Metal stamping comes with many advantages, including lower die costs and lower secondary costs. The process is also cost-effective, especially when producing large volumes of products. Learning how to operate the machines used during metal stamping is relatively straightforward, which often results in a quicker production. Metal stamping also often produces top-quality products without creating much waste.
Metal stamping may not be the best option if you have a short-term project. Using metal stamping for short-term production often results in higher production costs. Metal stamping presses are also expensive and difficult to transport.
Which technique should I use?
The technique you should use will greatly depend on the scope of your project and the type of products you’re looking to make. It’s usually best to speak with an expert in metal stamping and fabrication to see which technique they recommend. Using the right technique will help ensure you save costs while lowering production time.
If you’re in need of metal and steel fabrication service, contact the experts at Metal Pro Inc. today to learn more about what we can do for you.