Top Vendors for Metal Fabrication

Metal fabrication is a large area of expertise, covering the creation of machines, structures and tools. It involves many techniques, including cutting, forming and assembling components, and uses a wide variety of tools for various fabrication jobs. If you are relatively new to the world of metal fabrication, there is little doubt you will run across some new lingo. Whether you're in change of hiring a fabrication or machine shop, are beginning to work in a fab shop or are starting out as a fabricator yourself, an entire volume could cover the terminology you might encounter. However, to get you started, here are some common metal fabrication terms you are likely to run across.

Angle iron

An angle iron is a piece of iron or steel that is bent, cast or rolled at a right angle along its length, so it forms an "L" shape. Angle irons are a support or a part of a structural framework.

Press brake

A press brake, also called a bending brake, is a machine that cold forms, or bends, sheet, strip or plate steel into panels, boxes and similar shapes.

Burring

Burrs are any raised, sharp ridges on the edge of sheet metal blanks or forgings. Burring means to smooth these rough edges.

Punching

A punch is the male part of a die. Punching refers to the act of creating a hole with the die.

Shearing

Shearing cuts metal by using two moving blades or a single moving blade and a fixed edge. The blades might be either curved or flat.

Automatic welding

Automatic welding is welding by equipment or robot. The robot welds without the operator having to adjust controls frequently, and the equipment adjusts joint alignment by the use of automatic sensing devices.