What Is Fabrication In Construction? How Does Fabrication Work?
What Is Fabrication In Construction
Fabrication is the act of creating products by combining standardized parts through various processes. For instance, steel fabrication involves producing metal structures through techniques such as cutting, bending, and assembling.
The production process is often aided by computer-aided designs (CAD) and computer numerical control (CNC) technology which communicate directly with factory machinery.
This results in increased quality and accuracy in production leading to quicker steel erection times and cost savings for customers through improved material utilization and faster assembly times.
Fabrication is used to make a variety of products, both mass-produced and custom designs. Metals and their alloys, such as stainless steel, carbon steel, aluminum, copper, and brass, are typically used in fabrication processes.
Machines or labor can be used for the production or finishing of a part or final product. This may involve cutting metals into shapes or patterns; welding parts together; machining holes and threads; constructing metal frames; forming sheet metal into intricate shapes; sand blasting surfaces to give them texture; painting metal parts with protective coatings of lacquer, powder coating or e-coating – the list is endless.
How Does Fabrication Work?
Fabrication is the process of creating a product from raw materials. The first step in this process is design, which can be done using hand-drawn diagrams for simpler products or computer aided design (CAD) programs for more complex products.
After the design is complete, a prototype may be created for testing. The next step is to cut the materials into the desired shape, which can be done using various methods such as chiselling, sawing, or laser cutting. The materials are then bent into the desired shape using various tools, and then assembled using adhesives, binding, or welding.
The final step is to add coatings or other finishing processes to improve the appearance and durability of the product. Large-scale projects may require professional installation and may also require servicing and maintenance to keep them in working order.
Types Of Fabrication
Fabrication refers to the process of creating metal structures or parts by altering the physical properties of metal through various methods. Some common methods of fabrication include cutting, forming, punching, shearing, stamping, and welding.
Cutting is a common method of fabrication in which metal is divided into smaller sections. With advancements in technology, cutting has moved away from traditional sawing methods and now includes laser cutting, waterjet cutting, power scissors, and plasma arc cutting.
Forming is a process in which metal is bent or distorted to create parts and components. The metal is formed by using compressive methods such as rolling, which involves continuously feeding strips or sheets of metal through parallel rollers to shape the material into the desired form.
Punching is a process that creates holes in metal using mechanical devices or machines known as punch presses. Punching machines are equipped with turrets that strike metal through or into a die, resulting in uniquely designed holes in the metal. These holes can be used for fastening purposes or the removed pieces can be used as blanks.
Shearing involves trimming or removing unwanted material from metal. The process is achieved by mounting two blades above and below the metal to create a long, straight cut. The blades can be mounted at angles to reduce the necessary shearing force.
Stamping is similar to punching, but instead of creating a hole, it creates an indentation. Stamping is accomplished through mechanical or hydraulic means, and can be used to create shapes, letters, or images into the metal workpiece. Stamping machines can also cast, punch, cut, and shape metal sheets to produce a wide range of products.
Welding is the process of joining two or more pieces of metal together using a combination of heat and pressure. The shapes and sizes of the metal pieces can vary. Welding is one of the more common methods of fabrication and is crucial in creating metal structures.
In conclusion, fabrication is the process of creating metal structures or parts by altering the physical properties of metal through various methods, including cutting, forming, punching, shearing, stamping, and welding.
Example Fabrication Processes
The fabrication process refers to the methods used to produce a final product from raw materials. The type of fabrication process used depends on the material being used and the desired outcome. Here are some of the most common fabrication processes:
Burning and Cutting – This process involves using cutting tools to trim away unwanted material such as shearing, sawing and CNC cutting methods like plasma and laser cutting.
Forming – This process uses force to change a flat sheet metal into a 3D part without adding or subtracting material. Machine-controlled forming can be used in industries such as aerospace, automotive, construction and architecture.
Machining – This process removes material from a solid block to create a desired shape using tools like lathes, mills, and drills. Machining is commonly used to make solid items like bolts, screws, and nuts.
Punching and Stamping – Punching uses a press to create holes in metal, while stamping leaves an indentation that can be imprinted with shapes, letters or images. Both punching and stamping can be done with CNC programmed presses or manually.
Welding – Welding is a commonly used process for steel fabrication and involves joining formed and machined parts. Welding requires consideration of the material and the desired finish to avoid issues such as warping or burn through.
Each of these fabrication processes has specific applications and benefits and the choice of which one to use will depend on the project requirements.
