Monthly Archives: February 2014

Steel Fabrication – Stainless Steel Fabricating Processes

Stainless steel fabrication is versatile and mostly refers to the process of bending and cutting. Due to its resistance to stains, rust and corrosion, stainless steel is considered extremely popular for steel fabrication. There are myriad different steel fabrication techniques which include work hardening, machining and welding. Irrespective of the high strength offered by stainless steel, it is malleable enough to be machined, welded, bent or folded.

Stainless Steel can be easily fabricated by all the standard steel fabrication techniques. Steel fabrication methods are widely used to create household appliances or vehicular parts etc. Work hardening with Stainless steel imparts strength through deformation and the process is relatively quicker when compared with other metals. The hardening rate completely depends on the specific grade of the alloy. The austenitic alloy can be only hardened through cold working. The work hardening method of steel fabrication also increases magnetism of stainless steel.

Machining stainless steel can be certainly complex because it involves chipping and machining. Steel fabrication involving machining can be definitely improved by using large tools to dissipate heat, applying coolants to the equipment, use of chip breakers, and use of machine tool that reduces vibration. The free machining grades have lower corrosion resistances when compared with non-free equivalents.
Depending on the grade of stainless steel used, there can be different levels of efficiency achieved by welding services.

The austenitic grade of steel can be readily welded. Using heat, pressure and electricity the appropriate process of steel fabrication is completed. In order to achieve superior accuracy, the steel fabrication companies make use of cutting edge technology to keep a track. Decorative motifs, grills and steel frames are some of the most common applications of steel fabrication. At slower forming speeds, steel fabrication results in greater deformation. There are several other processes which may be used during steel fabrication which includes ladders, pipes, hand rails etc.

Aluminium Welding Techniques – Working with a MIG welder

Aluminium welding can be a lot easier when compared with steel welding, however one needs to be aware of the welding techniques and consult the documentation before proceeding with aluminium welding with equipments calibrated for use on steel. There are myriad basic techniques used for aluminium welding which includes MIG welding, TIG welding and with the use of stick electrodes.

Metal Inert Gas (MIG) welding requires post-weld retouches to ensure a flawless look. Using a wire feed for aluminium welding, the MIG welder forms the base of the welds which is guarded by an inert gas. The spray transfer method is used for aluminium welding with a MIG welder which creates tiny metal beads and presents a messed up look. The surface of the aluminium should be properly cleaned with a stainless steel brush.
The gas tungsten arc or the TIG welding method doesn’t require much cleaning and finishing after the welding process because the job done is considerably cleaner when compared with MIG welding. For quick and easy aluminium welding, this type of welder is considered highly effective. The TIG welder uses a permanent tungsten electrode which is not consumed by the aluminium welding process.

Aluminium welding which involves a stick electrode is considered as one of the least expensive methods of aluminium welding. The shielding is provided by the coating provided around the electrode. The welding process however requires considerable cleaning at the end of the welding. In case of stick welding, the electrode rod is entirely consumed.

However, use of MIG welder in case of aluminium welding is considered relatively tough because of the softness of aluminium which makes it difficult for the wire feed to be pushed through. There are many factors that make aluminium welding to work differently when compared with other metals.

Important Tips to ensure Best Results

Metal folding is an extremely important process in manufacturing industry. This process involves pressing and shaping of sheet metal on a bend press. Majorly used for making containers, cases, brackets and sections, this method allows product customization to suit your specific requirements. Sheet metal folding requires years of experience and a close attention to every detail to manufacture flawless products. To ensure best results, the parts must be of uniform thickness and consist of planes, cylinders or cones. By making a change in the part’s geometry, metal folding techniques creates a desired geometric form.
Metal folding will involve both compression and tension within the material. In order to understand the basics of metal folding one needs to have a fair idea of the punch die geometrics, setups and fixtures. The volume of the material remains same whereas the shape changes due to the metal folding process. Metal folding is also known to impart strength and stiffness to the sheet metal and definitely improves the appearance of the work piece by eliminating edges. The basic process of metal folding involves the work piece to be placed in between the punch and the V-shaped die.

Depending on the required bend, a work piece may need several metal folding processes. In case of metal folding, there are clamping beams which holds the longer side of the sheet metal. Based on the bend allowance, the sheet metal is fabricated. The resulting bend angle is greatly influenced by the tool geometry, material properties and angle of the beam. Tubes and pipes are satisfactorily bent using Rotary bending machines.

A hydraulic press can also be used during metal folding where the press will force the tube into roller dies. Sheet Metal Fabricator is committed to provide highly professional metal folding services at the best prices. The metal folding services is ideal for different fabrication applications.

Everything you wanted to Know about Laser Cutters

Laser cutters as the name signifies involves the use of a beam of narrow-wavelength light called laser that produces in-step waves of identical polarization, frequency and phase. Laser cutters provide a short cut to brilliance with their high precision and accuracy. Devised to melt away the material it attacks, the laser cutters use a powerful beam delivered through the cutting nozzle. There are several advantages associated with the use of laser cutters, which definitely justifies its popularity.

  •  In order to cut or mark intricate designs and drawing there are hardly any alternatives to the high accuracy provided by laser cutters.
  •  The cut quality is excellent and simply brilliant.
  •  The high processing speed of the laser cutters saves time and effort.
  •  The heated zone is extremely narrow in case of laser cutters.
  •  The oxidation layer left behind by the laser cutters is minimal and hence easy to clean.
  •  You can also achieve oxide-free cutting when the laser cutters are used with nitrogen.
  •  There is absolutely no need to change tools while working with laser cutters.
  •  The low level of heat applied ensures minimal deformation of the cut sheet.
  •  Small holes, bevelled surfaces and intricate designs which were earlier impossible with other thermal heating approaches are now easy to achieve with laser cutters.
  •  You also have a higher control on tight curves due to the availability of real time control of the laser power supplied to the cutters.

In general, there are two basic cutting methods employed by laser cutters i.e. Oxidation cutting and Fusion cutting. The oxidation method is considerably quicker and cost effective for cutting of carbon steels whereas the fusion cutting approach protects the edges from oxidation and mainly used for aluminium, stainless steel and their alloys. The cut quality provided by the laser cutters invariably depends on the beam generation, its delivery, cutting gas configuration and the characteristics of the material.