Man worker working with a metal product and welding it with a arc welding machine in a workshop. Industrial manufacturing. Welding metal part in a factory. Orange sparks. Copy space.

To make the most out of custom fabrication, you have to take control of your unique product. That means shaping the metal using several techniques to enhance its value. There are 3 proven methods that will get you results necessary without any of the normal building headaches.

Value Engineering

Optimizing a design takes a lot of effort when you consider all of the moving parts. This is why individuals and companies turn to mobile welder service to get the job done. Even with the additional help, the overall cost of the project is minimized since there are fewer mistakes. The keen eye of a professional is one of the most underappreciated cost saving techniques in the industry. Along with fewer mistakes, value engineering takes the approach of getting the project out of the door on time. Delays can cost thousands, and for particularly large projects, millions. When everything is clicking during the fabrication process, everyone involved is happier.

1. Precision Cutting and Machining

Clean and accurate cuts are part of the precision cutting process. For precision cutting, this involves methods like water jet, laser and plasma. With complex shapes and patterns, precision cutting can still maintain high accuracy throughout the entire project. For machining, shaping to the right dimensions and tolerance uses mills, lathes and grinder tools. The process for machining includes turning, milling and CNC machining. CNC in particular is an interesting method since it uses computer-controlled machines to handle accuracy during repeated tasks. The more complex the metal part, the more reliable it is to use CNC machining as a fabrication technique.

2. Welding and Joining

Welding and joining brings metal parts together to create a unified structure. This single piece can be small or large, and is an important part of the manufacturing, construction, automotive and aerospace industry. For welding techniques, it is common to look in the direction of MIG. This is Metal Inert Gas welding that consists of using a wire electrode and shielding gas to create an electric arc. That electric art is then used to melt the metal and wire to create a workable portion in the weld. TIG (Tungsten Inert Gas) and Stick welding are alternatives to MIG, and just as effective. For joining techniques, bolting, riveting and adhesive bonding are the most used. The reason they are the most used has to do with their favorability by skilled operators. Joining is one of the critical processes of metal fabrication, and these three joining techniques are related to the quality of the finished product.

3. Surface Finishing and Coating

One of the most important steps in metal fabrication is surface finishing the coating. This improves the durability, appearance and resistance of the part. For the best results, a finishing technique should already be in place long before getting to this step. Unlike the other two techniques on the list, the characteristics of the part are more important than the technique used for surface finishing and coating. This includes painting, plating, powder coating, anodizing and more. Utilizing equipment like ultrasonic cleaning tanks can further enhance the surface preparation process, ensuring that the metal parts are thoroughly cleaned before finishing, leading to better adhesion and a more uniform finish.

Doing It the Right Way

It’s never too late to increase the efficiency of your fabrication techniques. Resources are limited, so doing it the right way is highly recommended for a successful project. Change your fabrication techniques for the better, and everyone involved will get an instant boost in confidence.