subject: Steel Fabrication And Why It Is Important [print this page] Steel has many purposes in construction, but to be useful it has to be shaped to fit existing templates. This is what is known as steel fabrication. This job has to be done by expert steel fabricators, which is similar to but different from a machine shop, although some companies offer both services from the same location.
Generally, before a construction project begins, a fabrication company bids on the job of shaping the steel components. When the bid is won, the company then goes to work making the steel parts on a made to order basis.
Shaping steel can be done in different ways such as bending, burning, grinding, punching, drilling, cutting, and welding. The most popular methods to use when welding are arc welding and gas welding. When gas welding, it is most common to use MIG, or metal inert gas, and TIG, or tungsten inert gas.
The actual shaping of the steel takes place at the fabrication shop and when the pieces are complete they are taken to the construction site to be used. Steel fabrication is a necessary part of building construction, but it has many other uses too such as being used to make tanks, gates, stairs, posts, ladders, nails, handrails, racks, landing gears, and bumpers. Several different kinds of industries have a need for this service such as the military, marine, construction, automotive, transportation, and even private individuals. The procedure can be used on huge jobs such as ship construction or small jobs such as making nails.
Since steel is such a widely used building material, there is a huge need for this service and the skilled workers to do it. It is made from iron and other substances such as carbon, manganese, vanadium, chromium, and tungsten depending on the intended use for the steel. As an example, stainless steel has chromium added, alloy steel uses only non-carbon components, maraging steel has nickel added, and spring steel has very few added alloy elements. Other varieties of steel include tool steel, that as its name implies, is used to make tools, and weathering steel.
A good fabricator needs a well stocked shop with a variety of tools in order to meet the demands for the wide variety of steel shaping customers need. For example, the shop will need technologically advanced machines such as shears, press brakes, plate rolls, saws, plasma torches, and all types of welding equipment.
This metal science has advanced right along with technology through the decades. Metal fabrication is actually hundreds of years old. It was practiced in olden times by blacksmiths who pounded on hot metal with a hammer. However, today most of the work is done on auto pilot by sophisticated machines.
These high tech machines need skilled workers to operate them so they produce shaped steel to precise specifications. When selecting the right company for the job, it is a good idea to find one with an excellent reputation for quality workmanship and customer service who also has several years of experience in the field.
