Steel fabrication as a complicated process

Steel fabrication is the process used to describe the manufacturing of steelwork components used in various industries such as mining, gas, and oil. These components are then shaped into a frame that is available for purchase.

It is important to note that when shopping for fabricated metal, steelmakers or stockholders make a variety of shapes and sizes. However, your project may require fabrication of a different shape or size not in stock. Under those circumstances, the manufacturer would then fabricate steel from plate to meet your customized specifications.

Computer-Aided Design/Computer Numerically Controlled vs. Tape Measure

Modern day steel fabrication factories utilize computer-aided design and detailing, called CAD, in the creation of fabricated materials. The CAD is then linked to the factory floor with a computer numerically controlled, or CNC, which results in the most optimal design system. This innovative technology increases accuracy by using computer-generated details, which are transmitted directly to computer-aided manufacturing, or CAM. These computer-generated details also increase production quality and ensure standardization.

Before CAD or CAD/CNC technology was introduced, tape measures were used to create the steel frame. With tape measures, however, the frame was highly subjected to inaccuracies in measurement and ended up costing in time loss and project delays, particularly if the client and contractor were forced to reassess adjustments.

What Else to Consider

As you can imagine, there is a plethora of additional information to consider prior to and during the creation of your fabricated steel materials. For example, it is important to note that there are several types of fabrication processes. The three main types include preparation, welding, and coating.

During the preparation process, the material is collected from the stockyard, shot blasted to prepare the surface, then cut and drilled using circular saws, gas or flame cutting, plasma cutting, or drilling and punching. The materials then go through bending using one of the four methods: section, plate, tube, or press breaking before tee splitting and profiling of tubular sections.

Once the materials are prepared, the welding stage begins. This stage involves the selection of one of four different types of welding process: manual metal arc (MMA), metal active gas (MAG), submerged arc welding (SAW), or non-destructive testing (NDT). The last stage is coating. This final stage seals the materials to exact specifications.

Steel fabrication is a complicated process, but it is essential to modern day manufacturing. When we are able to understand what goes into it, we can appreciate the hard work these contractors and engineers do.