Metal Fabrication Materials: A Comprehensive Guide
Metal fabrication is a vital process in various industries, from construction and automotive to aerospace and medical. It involves shaping and joining metals to create a vast array of products. Choosing the most suitable materials for a metal fabrication product is crucial for ensuring the final product's functionality, durability, and cost-effectiveness.
Metal fabrication is essential for various industries, including those we provide for
- Commercial: Building commercial metal enclosures, cabinets, box component parts, box assembly, etc.
- Military: Manufacturing critical parts for the defense industries within the Military, etc.
- Medical: Cabinetry, storage, organizational containers
- Electronics: Chassis, silk-screened panels, covers, doors, smaller enclosures
- Packaging: Enclosures for producing packaging protective materials
- Railroad: Assemblies and parts used in track maintenance equipment
Benefits of metal fabrication
- Versatility: Metal can be shaped into practically any form, making it suitable for diverse applications.
- Durability: Metal is strong and resistant to wear and tear, ensuring long-lasting products.
- Recyclability: Most metals are highly recyclable, promoting sustainable manufacturing practices.
- Cost-effectiveness: Metal fabrication can be cost-efficient for mass production of components.
Fabrication Materials List
Here's a list of commonly used metal fabrication materials that Aldine Metal resources for manufacturing:
Ferrous Metals the Aldine Metal Uses:
- Steel: The most widely used metal in fabrication due to its strength, versatility, and affordability.
- Stainless Steel: Steel alloyed with chromium and other elements for enhanced corrosion resistance.
Non-Ferrous Metals:
- Aluminum: Lightweight and strong, making it ideal for aircraft construction and other applications where weight reduction is crucial.
- Copper: Highly conductive and corrosion-resistant, used for electrical wiring, heat exchangers, and roofing.
- Brass: An alloy of copper and zinc, known for its high ductility and malleability, often used for decorative purposes.
How Our Customers Choose the Right Fabrication Material:
Selecting the optimal material for metal fabrication depends on several factors, including:
- Intended use of the product: What function will the final product serve? What are the expected loads and stresses it will encounter?
- Required properties: Strength, weight, corrosion resistance, conductivity, and thermal properties are some key considerations.
- Fabrication process: Different materials are suited for various fabrication processes like welding, cutting, and forming.
- Cost and availability: Material cost and ease of procurement are important factors to consider.
Metal Fabrication Processes Aldine Metals follows
Cutting
- Separating metal into desired shapes using various methods like laser cutting, punching, and forming.
Bending
- Using CNC Press Brakes, rollers, etc. to produce specific angles, shapes, or forms.
Welding
Permanently attaching different pieces of sheet metal components, as seen in MIG and TIG welding, spot welding, robotic MIG welding, soldering, robotic fiber welding, etc.
Riveting
- Another way of permanently attaching different pieces of sheet metal components, but without using any heat (usually by inserting threaded fasteners).
Finishing
- Applying various treatments to improve the surface properties of the metal, including plating, powder coating, polishing, anodizing, and iriditing.
By understanding the different metal fabrication materials and their properties, you can make informed decisions about your next project, ensuring the final product meets your specific needs and requirements.
