What Are the Types of Steel Fabrication Techniques?

15/04/20

Steel fabrication is the process of cutting, shaping or moulding a steel material into a final product. Steel fabrication creates the end product from raw or semi-raw materials instead of assembling the end product from ready-made components. Within the process of steel fabrication, there are a range of manufacturing processes that can be utilised, depending on the beginning material and the resulting end product.

Steel Fabrication Methods

Before choosing your desired steel fabrication process, you must first determine the products intended purpose and the materials utilised. The common steel fabrication methods include:

• Casting
• Cutting
• Drawing
• Folding
• Forging
• Extrusion
• Machining
• Punching
• Shearing
• Stamping
• Welding

Casting

Casting is the process of pouring molten steel into a mould and then letting the mould cool to create the desired component shape. Casting is the ideal process for mass-production of various project parts as you can reuse the same mould many times over to create the exact shape each time.

Cutting

Cutting is the process of cutting workpiece steel into smaller sections that can be utilised for various tasks. This process is one of the most common steel fabrication processes. Sawing is seen as the oldest form of cutting, however, modern day methods such as waterjet cutting, laser cutting and power scissors. Cutting may be the first stage of a steel fabrication process or it may be the only process.

Drawing

Drawing is the process of utilising tensile force to pull steel through a tapered die. When the steel goes through the tapered die, it makes the steel into a thinner shape. Drawing steel fabrication is usually performed at room temperature, but the thin steel piece can be heated to reduce the force required.

Folding

Folding is the process of manipulating steel to bend at an exact angle. How folding works is that the workpiece steel is held between a flat surface and a brake press and the brake press creases the steel by applying a downward force onto the workpiece. This process is usually to shape sheet steel.

Forging

Forging is the process of utilising a significant amount of force to create the shape of the workpiece steel. The force that is applied is usually a hammer or die and these strike the steel until the desired shape is achieved. Forging can take place in a range of temperature ranges from cold forging, to warm forging and hot forging.

Extrusion

Extrusion is the process of forcing the workpiece steel through or around an open or closed mould. When forced through the mould, this reduces the workpieces diameter and creates the workpiece diameter around the mould. Extrusion is usually utilised to create wiring or piping as it results in a cylindrical item.

Machining

Machining is the process of utilising a machine to remove the wanted material from the workpiece to create the desired shape. Drilling, turning and milling are all process included in machining.

Punching

Punching is the process of punching uniquely shaped holes through a die to create holes. These holes are punching by utilising a punch press and the end product can be used for fastening purposes.

Shearing

Shearing is the process of implementing two tools to achieve one long straight cut along a sheet of steel. This process is completed through one of the tools applying pressure to the steel sheet form below and the other above the metal. This allows for the upper blade to force the steel onto the stationary lower blade and fracture the steel.

Stamping

Stamping is the process of creating an indentation in the workpiece. Stamping can be utilised to form a range of shapes, letters or images in the steel sheet. This process is similar to punching and can use both a mechanical and hydraulic stamping presses.

Welding

Welding is the process of using both heat and pressure to combine two pieces of steel together to form one larger object. This one of the more popular steel fabrication methods as it allows you to combine pieces of steel together that are various sizes and lengths.

Contact Truline Engineering for All Your Steel Fabrication Needs!

Give the team at Truline Engineering a call or fill out our online enquiry form to discuss your next steel fabrication project and how we can assist you in providing exceptional steel fabrication service. With over 25 years of experience, the team at Truline Engineering can complete a steel fabrication project in Melbourne and surrounding suburbs.

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