While most custom sheet metal fabrication primarily deals with the shaping and cutting of metal, there are actually many steps involved in fabricating products. The whole process begins with a design and ends with a finished part or final product. Here are the three major steps of fabricating metal items.
The Design Phase:
This is the very first step in any custom sheet metal fabrication project. Some businesses may already have a completed design while many have a prototype. Nowadays, many fabricators employ CAD or CAM programs during the manufacturing process, enabling them to develop a 3D prototype before the actual metalwork starts. This design phase ensures that the final product functions as necessary wherein the kind of metal to be used will be determined to make sure it fits the final part required.
The Actual Fabrication:
The actual fabricating process is the second phase where the fabricators cut and shape each of the parts from the design phase. The common tools used during the custom sheet metal fabrication include shears, mills, lathes, and nibblers. And of course, CNC tools and machines are used to ensure that each part is made to its exact specifications as identified in the design phase. The program is fed to the computer that dictates the machine and tool what to do to create the desired item.
The Finishing and Assembly:
Lastly, finishing and assembling the machined parts into the final product is the last step in custom sheet metal fabrication. Grinding and deburring are some of the finishing techniques that are used to make sure that the final products work properly. Some may involve heating or plating with zinc to strengthen and protect the parts. This is also when your parts can be printed or marked with your company logo and other important information about your business. Then assembly ends the entire process with your products ready for shipment.