Choosing From Among The Most Common Sheet Metal Fabrication Processes

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Process Control: Improving the Productivity of Your Small Factory

Several years ago, I purchased a small clothing factory. My goal was to focus on producing quality goods that were affordable for people on fixed incomes. It didn't take me long to see that we needed to improve the production process. To get started, I brought in a production and efficiency expert. She looked at our current production layout and identified several ways to eliminate waste and shorten the amount of time needed to cut and assemble a garment. With some rearranging of machinery and job responsibilities, we were able to increase our productivity by 30% and reduce operational costs by the same amount. Whether your company produces clothing, widgets, or toys, it pays to take a second look at the process. Let me share what the expert did to help us. You may find some of those same suggestions will work for your operation.

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Choosing From Among The Most Common Sheet Metal Fabrication Processes

5 October 2020
 Categories: , Blog

The metal products that your business uses or sells can underscore your success. When you need them to be manufactured in a certain manner, you need to partner with a company that can create your metal products to your specifications. However, you may wonder how exactly you can have your metal shaped and what final forms are available to you. These sheet metal fabrication processes are some from which you can choose for your own business today.

Cutting

Cutting is one of the most basic sheet metal fabrication processes available to business owners today. With cutting, a sheet of metal is simply cut in whatever portions that you order. You can have the sheet metal cut in half, thirds, quarters, or even smaller portions if you choose.

A variety of machines and equipment are used for cutting in sheet metal fabrication. Fabricators can use lasers to create clean cuts of metal. They can also use plasma torches that are ideal for cutting into thicker and more elaborate pieces of metal.

Folding

Folding is another sheet metal fabrication process that is available to business owners today. As its name implies, folding involves folding sheet metal into halves, thirds, and quarters. The metal can also be folded into 90-degree angles. 

Folding sheet metal can also involve piecing together two separate sheets of metal to create specialized angles and folds. This sheet metal fabrication process is typically performed in facilities with specialized high-tech equipment because of the risks that folding metal can entail. Precautions are taken to prevent the metal from cracking and splintering during the folding process.

Stamping

Stamping is another common sheet metal fabrication process. This process involves raising or imprinting a part or all of the sheet of metal. The stamping process is not designed to puncture or create holes or cracks in the metal. 

Stamping is typically done to create a certain aesthetic effect in the sheet metal. It can also be done to ensure a certain fit in the metal or to make it compatible to use with other machines and equipment in a factory.

These processes are some of the most commonly used in sheet metal fabrication today. You can have your sheets of metal cut in whatever portions that you choose. You can also have it folded into quarters, halves, thirds, or other portions. Finally, you can use stamping to create aesthetic results in it. Choose which is best for you.