An exquisite art of Sheet Metal Bending

Posted on October 28 2013 by admin

Metal folding is a fine art where sheet metal that produces a U-shape, V-shape or channel shape mostly from sheet metal. During the process of metal folding, equipments like box and pan brakes, brake presses and other special presses are used in bending sheet metal. Electrical enclosures and rectangular ductwork are common examples of bent sheet metal. The best way to achieve tight radius bends on sheet metal with no deformation is through Metal folding. Micah & Co. offers various types of metal work and sheet metal fabrication like – Sheet Metal fabrication, Drilling facilities, Metal forming, Metal folding and guillotining, Welding facilities etc. Size and thickness of the work piece decides the type of metal bending process. Also, the size of the bend, angle of bend, bend radius, curvature and location of the bend are critical factors in the metal folding process. The main advantage associated with metal folding is that there is minimal risk of surface damage of the sheet. There are myriad types of CNC Metal Bending processes. Let’s discuss more on the different types of metal folding techniques along with the advantages offered by the process.

  • In case of Bottoming, the work piece is forced against the V-opening in the bottom tool. This technique provides greater accuracy and less spring back.
  • The main advantage of Coining is that it can attain high level of precision, ability to reduce the inside radius and high level of repeatability.
  • Rotary Bending uses a special type of punch die combination and this process can produce angles greater than 90 degree in a single hit.
  • The Elastomer bending process is suitable for pre-painted surfaces and it can easily achieve U-bends greater than 180° in one single hit.

At Micah & Co. we guarantee facilities which are equipped to handle all types of sheet metal fabrication and metal folding work.

Things to consider when hiring steel fabrication and welding services

Posted on October 21 2013 by admin

Whether you are a small business owner looking for steel fabrications, a construction manager seeking metal folding and welding services, or a production manager requiring some state-of-art machines, you would have to hire a company specializing in such services. But how can you go about finding and hiring the company that will deliver highest quality products and services? The task may be a little daunting, but a little research and some background checks can go a long way in helping you make a right choice. Here are some tips that can help you choose the best company offering metal folding, metal stamping, steel fabrications, and aluminium welding services. Continue reading →

What You Need To Know About Sheet Metal Fabrication before Starting Your Project

Posted on October 16 2013 by admin

Let’s start with a brief introduction to Fabrication. Sheet metal fabrication is a technique used to shape and bend sheet metals with the objective of creating various components of desired dimensions and form. The process of Sheet metal fabrication usually comprises of several operations, such as metal folding and metal stamping, among others. These operations are performed to achieve one or both of the following purposes; for removing unwanted parts of a metal and for deforming metals to get preferred results. In steel fabrications, the best results are usually achieved by utilizing a combination of skilled labour force and cutting-edge fabrication technology.

Sheet metal fabrication is extensively used in a number of areas ranging from bridges and automobiles to electronic and building components. Without a doubt, products manufactured by using this technique have now become a crucial part of our everyday lives. In simpler terms, most of the products with metal components that we use nowadays are required to go through one or more processes in sheet metal fabrication, for instance aluminium welding or any process used in steel fabrications.

An overview of processes used in sheet metal fabrication

Processes used in sheet metal fabrication are broadly classified into two main categories namely; Cutting and forming. Fabricators begin the process of creating the product by using various cutting techniques. These techniques include a combination of shearing, chiselling, punching and sawing techniques using laser cutters or handheld torches. Sheet metal shearing is done by applying controlled stress to the cutting tools to attain excellent results.

Forming involves sheet metal bending, metal stamping, deep drawing, spinning and stretch forming. Bending is one of the most common forming processes. In this process, sheet metal is deformed about one axis by using press brake. One of the simplest forms of bending in steel fabrications is usually done along a straight line. Metal folding can be achieved by using special machines or by sliding the sheet metal using a die.

Custom fabrication is the way to go

Though there is no dearth of standard components in the market, not all of them can suit the specific needs of today’s customers. That’s exactly the reason why most of the established enterprises prefer custom fabrication to meet their suitable needs. Custom fabrication using reputable services, such as Micah & Co, ensures that you get to choose the best quality raw materials and the final product is manufactured exactly according to your requirements. With custom steel fabrications, you will get products that can easily outlast the standard components.

Top reasons to choose an end-to-end fabrication service

Sheet metal fabrications, particularly steel fabrications, require the use of a number of machines and tools, such as laser cutters and CNC machines. If you want to attain spectacular results, you need to get the services of skilled and experienced fabricators. When you opt for reputable and professional Sheet metal fabrication services, such as Micah & Co, you can easily achieve these goals with aplomb. These firms use the best machines and carefully selected talent to take your fabrication job from its conception to final stage in the most professional manner.

You might have stumbled upon a lot of firms that offer you just a couple of services such as aluminium welding or other welding services, but you can save a lot of money without compromising on the quality by choosing a fabricator that specializes in all aspects of the process. These services would include design and engineering, sawing, shearing, metal folding, laser-cutting, metal stamping, punching, welding services and final assembling. It’s a well proven fact that fabrication firms that offer you end-to-end solutions can provide you with some great savings and much shorter timelines for your projects. At Micah & Co, we leave no stone unturned to deliver the most astonishing results to our customers as far as their fabrication needs are concerned. Contact us today to know more about our services.

Safety Tips for Welders

Posted on October 1 2013 by admin

Welding safety is crucial for reducing the number of accidents and injuries along with improving the overall productivity. The safety tips for welding services are universally applicable and mandatory. Generally there are some common safety standards which are applicable to all kinds of welding services worldwide. Micah & Co offer more than 20 years experience with welding services and metal fabrication. We are a company that specialises in commercial welding in New South Wales and hold expertise in all kinds of welding services. Let’s discuss some of the important safety tips for services/”>welding services:

  •  Wear Proper Gear: Proper welding gear which includes helmet, gloves and appropriate clothing is mandatory for welding services.
  •  Read the manual: The operating manual lists down important safety information and procedures for welding services.
  •  Don’t expose any skin: Any exposed skin is susceptible to the painful and damaging effects of ultraviolet and infrared rays. Sparks can cause serious damage, hence be sure to cover everything up.
  •  Breathe freely: Use an exhaust to remove toxic fumes and smoke that is emitted during welding services. Some materials specifically require respirators when welding.
  •  Don’t look directly at the arc: A moment of direct exposure to the welding arc’s rays are enough to cause ‘arc flash’ which is a painful condition for eyes. The welding helmets should have proper shade to protect the welder’s face and eyes while welding. Moreover, approved safety glasses with side shields and ear protection is necessary during welding services.
  •  Auto-darkening helmets: These helmets will darken the lens in a fraction of a second. Ensure that the lens meets the ANSI standards.

At Micah & Co, we understand the importance of employee safety and hence strictly adhere to all safety norms applicable for welding

Custom Laser Cutting

Posted on September 21 2013 by admin

Customer Laser cutting has numerous benefits and can easily create custom, two-dimensional plastic parts suitable for a variety of projects. Laser cutters can be used to laser cut almost anything which can be drawn which means that anything from small screw holes, sharp angles, smooth curves and complex lace designs can be easily achieved with the use of laser cutters. Moreover, with custom laser cutting, you can also laser engrave text, logos, and photos. At Micah & Co., we understand how important it is to produce your job to the highest standard and we deliver just that.

Custom laser cutting is ideal for making tailored and customized parts swiftly and economically for any project. Laser cutters can achieve intricate designs which can be too complex for creating by hand. Laser cutters are normally used for custom plastic parts but it can also be used for custom wood, rubber and foam parts but not PVC, metals or vinyl. There is usually no limit on the precision offered by the laser cutter, but still depending on the material used, the thickest sheet which can be cut using laser cutters will be around 12 mm. It is quite easy to achieve two dimensional parts with the use of laser cutters, however one can also achieve three dimensional parts from flat pieces by using screws, brackets and some glue.

There are two types of laser engraving possible with Laser Cutters i.e. vector engraving and raster engraving. The vector engraving is limited to a line art and its almost similar to laser cutting considering the width of the etching lines. On the other hand, raster engraving is used for engraving bitmaps and is more flexible. Contact us today to know more about Laser Cutters and various laser cutting services.

Metal Folding – What are the different techniques?

Posted on September 13 2013 by admin

Metal Folding is a very common and vital process in manufacturing industry. Sheet Metal Folding won’t bring any change to the thickness of the sheet metal, but create a change in the shape of the work piece. For metal folding, the sheet metal is stressed beyond its yield strength but quite below its ultimate tensile strength. Through the use of standard die-sets or bend brakes, it is possible to produce different shapes. Micah & Co. utilizes an end-to-end planning approach, which enables us to provide a broad spectrum of value-added innovative services to fulfil the complete range of dynamic needs of the customer.

There are myriad types of CNC Metal Folding. Let’s discuss some of them:

  •  Air Bending: One of the most popular and most common type of metal folding process. In this process the sheet metal comes in contact with the outside edges of the die. There are certain advantages associated with this type of metal folding i.e. the flexibility and low tonnage makes it a popular choice.
  •  Bottoming: In this case of metal folding, the sheet metal is forcefully placed along the V opening. Advantages include less spring back and greater accuracy.
  •  Coining: This type of metal folding is achieved by stamping the sheet metal between the punch and the die. Advantages include high precision, high level of repeatability and ability to reduce inside radius.
  •  Folding: This type of metal folding assures that there would be minimal risk of surface damage to the sheet metal.
  •  Wiping Bending: This type of metal folding boasts of high levels of repeatability and precision.
  •  Rotary Bending: As the name suggests, this type of metal folding is quite flexible and offers to produce angles greater than 90 degrees, which remunerates for spring-back.

At Micah & Co., using the latest technology we offer metal cutting, metal bending, metal punching, welding, spot welding etc.

Types of Steel used for fabrication

Posted on September 3 2013 by admin

Stainless steel is one of the most familiar building component because Steel is durable, strong and can be easily shaped into various shapes and sizes. There are various different types of machines used for steel fabrications i.e. the process to shape stainless steel into custom sizes where the machine is entrusted with various responsibilities like grinding, cutting, burning and welding. There are various different types of metals used for steel fabrications because every appliance has its own requirements.

Micah & Co. is committed to the highest standards of customer service and quality workmanship. With our vast experience, we have earned an enviable reputation for reliability, flexibility and excellent service. Let’s discuss the various classes of steel often used in the process of steel fabrications:

  • Stainless steel: This particular alloy has minimum of 11 percent chromium which makes it rust-resistant and keeps it protected against corrosion and water stains. Commonly used for kitchen appliances, industrial equipments and surgical instruments. Also it possesses anti-bacterial properties and can be easily sterilized.
  • Tool Steel: Used to make tools, this type of steel is hard and durable because of its components which includes carbon and manganese.
  • Weathering Steel: Used in construction, this type of steel doesn’t need painting and often has a rusty appearance.
  • Spring Steel: It is made with elements that allow it to spring back into shape if it’s bent or twisted. Everything from antennas, swords and lock picks are made from spring steel which is high in silicon.
  • Carbon Steel: As the name suggests, it contains carbon and hence has the ability to get stronger and hotter when it’s heat treated. Mostly used in automotive parts, knives etc.
  •  Crucible Steel: This type of steel has been used in steel fabrications for centuries and mostly used in swords and other weapons.

What is MIG Welding?

Posted on August 29 2013 by admin

Gas Metal Arc Welding (GMAW) is frequently referred to as MIG welding. MIG, an acronym for Metal Inert Gas welding is a commonly used high deposition rate welding process. Wire is continuously fed from a spool, which is used to start the arc. It is shielded by inert gas and the feeding wire also acts as the filler rod. MIG is fairly easy to learn and use, as it is a semi-automatic welding process. The primary advantage of MIG welding is that it allows metal to be welded much more quickly than traditional “stick welding” techniques.

MIG welding has myriad benefits associated with it:

  • MIG welding services provides the capability to weld non-ferrous metals like aluminium.
  • It produces long and continuous welds much faster than traditional welding methods.
  • The shielding gas protects the welding arc, which means that MIG welding services will produce a clean weld with very little splatter.
  • MIG welding can be used with a wide variety of metals and alloys.
  • MIG welding services assures higher deposition rates than Shielded metal arc welding.
  • Very easy to operate, hence less operator skills required.

Some of the common challenges faced by MIG welding services are:

  •  Heavily oxidized weld deposit
  •  Burn back
  •  Porosity
  •  Unstable arc
  •  Irregular wire feed
  •  Difficult arc starting etc.

If your company is experiencing these or other welding problems you can engage experienced engineers at Micah & Co. to improve your weld processing. Our welding services include MIG & TIG welding as well as Spot & Stud welding. We specialise in structural steel welding, pipe line steel welding, architectural steel welding, metal fabrication and on site welding contracts. At Micah & Co., we are committed to provide customized solutions for all your welding needs and guarantee highest standards of quality within your budget.

The World of Steel Fabrications – Various Uses

Posted on August 20 2013 by admin

It won’t be wrong to say that there is some steel in almost each one of us and life cannot be imagined without steel. Stainless Steel Fabrications is the method of manipulating the shape of steel to produce new and unique products. This includes some bending and welding of the metal but without completely melting it down to liquid. At Micah & Co. we pride ourselves on giving our customers exactitude engineering to the highest possible quality as we take great pride in our work and our reputation which we have successfully built up and maintained over the years.

Stainless Steel is omnipresent and almost indispensable, considering its importance in medical science, kitchen, and in the construction industry. The immense strength of steel makes it an ideal choice for frameworks so it is not surprising to find steel frames in doors, windows, or machines. . Galvanized stainless steel is extensively used to prepare screw conveyors which are very important in the manufacturing industry. Stainless steel fabrications are used to form the skeleton or the architectural components of cable or tube railing. Steel fabrications are also used in locations where the pierced metal is required like in vehicle areas, seats, shop surfaces etc. Besides the tools in kitchen, you might notice these days that stainless steel basins are being used progressively. In short, Steel fabrications is vital for Mining and Processing, Industrial uses, Commercial uses, medical science, kitchen and in construction of multilevel high-rises.

Micah & Co. prides itself on exceptional customer service and is committed to its promise to deliver, quality steel, on site, on time. No matter what your project involves, with our fresh, flexible approach and forward thinking we are skilled in assisting customers with requirements that go beyond our standard range of products. Whatever the customer requirements are we can usually find a way to help achieve their goals.

Myriad Types and Uses

Posted on August 10 2013 by admin

Laser cutting is a method of cutting to specific shapes flat sheet metal and other materials. Industrial laser cutters are used mostly to cut flat sheet material or structural or piping metals. The laser cuts the material by burning, melting, or blowing it away. In industrial laser machining there are many different types of laser cutting systems for different types of materials. Laser cutting is preferred over mechanical cutting for thick flat sheet material or when precision machined parts are needed. Micah & Co. are cutting specialists, providing a practical and affordable service using either a laser or a water jet cutting machine. We provide simple, easy to use Laser Cutting Services for Artists, Designers and Creative People.

There are several different types of laser cutters typically used in industrial laser cutting systems: CO2 or Nd lasers being the most common. Let us discuss some of the most common types of Laser cutters used for Industrial purpose.

  • CO2 Laser Cutters: Carbon dioxide cutting lasers are widely used in industrial settings for both cutting and welding.
  • Neodymium Laser Cutters: Neodymium lasers are often used primarily for boring. These lasers are typically for small or medium sized cutting, and are also used in a wide range of research applications, most notably in nuclear fusion research.
  • Neodymium Yttrium-Aluminium-Garnet Laser: Better known as the Nd-YAG laser cutters, can produce high-power beams necessary for cutting. This type of laser cutters, work in pulse mode and are often used to engrave, bore or pierce materials. These lasers are also used in medical

Micah & Co. have more than 20 years of experience in the world of laser cutting. We are passionate about helping people manufacture their own designs for small run or specialty items. Contact us today to get the best quote for all your laser cutting needs.

 

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    Sheet Metal Folding / Bending

    The team at Micah & Co. is highly skilled using the CNC sheet metal folding process.

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  • Sheet Metal Cutting

    Sheet Metal Cutting

    Micah & Co. Uses the latest Cutting Technology.

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  • Sheet Metal Fabrication

    Sheetmetal Fabrication

    Micah & Co. has the most skilled fabrications in the industry.

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  • Sheet Metal Design

    Sheet Metal Design

    The team at Micah & Co. is highly skilled in the design of Sheetmetal Products.

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