Metal fabrication is a process that has been in existence for centuries and involves bending, cutting and assembling of various materials into different shapes and sizes. The tools and techniques that are used in fabrication are specialized, for example, welding and forming. Other specialized techniques used to fabricate metals are shearing, brazing, forging, powder coating, spinning, chipping, heat treatment and many others. There are also some sophisticated techniques used in this process such as machine design, electrical and prototyping. The technique to be used will be determined by the type of metal to be fabricated and the shape that is desired.

There are several raw materials that can be used in the metal fabrication process; they include formed metal, plate metal, castings, welding wire, fittings and hardware. These are used in the various stages like cutting, burning, welding, machining and final assembly. Most machines and structures are constructed using these techniques. The most common metals used in fabrication are stainless steel and sheet metal. They are popular because of their extensive use in the manufacture of numerous industrial and consumer products including loose parts, machines and structural frames.

When a piece of metal is transformed into thin and flat pieces then it is known as a sheet metal. The thicknesses of sheet metals always varies but they can all be cut and bent into various shapes and sizes. A gauge is a measure of the thickness of sheet metal. Besides the flat pieces, sheet metal can also be found as coiled strips. It is usually made from brass, aluminum, steel, titanium and nickel. Sheet metal fabrication techniques are used to make products such as airplane wings, car bodies, industrial equipment and building materials.

Stainless steel is an alloy that is made from chromium, iron and several other elements that differ in concentrations. Stainless steel is known mainly for its strength and resistance to corrosion. This makes it a low maintenance metal that can also be recycled. There are several grades of stainless steel with different surface finishes depending on their intended purposes. The grade and finish will also depend on the environment in which the steel was kept after it had been converted to a final product. Some of the finishes are satin finish, brushed finish, abrasive finish and mirror finish. Various industrial and consumer products are built using stainless steel fabrication techniques. These techniques allow clients to take advantage of the strength of steel in various applications. Metal fabrication is a very important aspect of both development and industrialization that affects everybody’s daily life in one way or the other.