An Overview of Sheet Metal Fabrication

by MELISSA RIVERS

Sheet metal fabrication involves working with thin, flat pieces of metal. Sheet metal can also be in coils. The metal is then formed into various shapes and made into a useable form.

Sheet metal is characterized by its thickness, called gauge. It can be up to ? inch thick, anything thicker is considered a plate.

Sheet metal can be made of a variety of metals. It can be made of aluminum, steel, tin, nickel, titanium, or other metals. It is used in various ways, as well. It is used in making automobiles, medical equipment, food service equipment and roofing. Generally, fabricators
Sheet metal fabrication involves a lot of different processes and tools. Many companies use computers these days to cut, form and finish the sheet metal. Sometimes, though, they use saws to cut the metal parts. They also use hydraulics is the process. Welding equipment is also a big part of metal fabrication. Welding is the process of binding two pieces together.

Sheet metal fabrication has many applications. It is a process that take a simple piece of metal and turns it into a valuable part or product. Sheet metal fabrication impacts many different industries. It involves many different tools, equipment and processes. Each fabricator may not do things exactly the same, but in general all fabricators are taking metal from sheet form and creating something completely different.

About the Author: Melissa Rivers writes for Courtesy Manufacturing Company. CMC is a precision metal component manufacturing facility that specializes in precision metal stamping, fabrication, and sheet metal fabrication.