| Sheet metal fabrication is the
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| | create a component before finishing.
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| manipulation of metal to create any type
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| | There are several forming techniques.
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| of component that will be used in an end
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| | Rolling is used to shape flat pieces of
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| product. It can be used in almost any
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| | metal over and over by the use of roll
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| manufacturing field including medical,
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| | stands. In bending and forming, the sheet
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| computer, electronics, or appliances.
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| | metal is manipulated basically by hand to
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| Any product that contains metal
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| | form a desired shape.
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| components will go through some form of
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| | Stamping involves tools and dies that are
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| sheet metal fabrication.
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| | used to stamp designs into the metal. The
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| In sheet metal fabrication, several
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| | designs might also be 3-D designs. A
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| processes are used to reach an end
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| | method called punching is used to punch
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| product. These include cutting, forming,
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| | holes in the metal. Welding is used to
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| and finishing.
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| | join pieces of sheet metal together by
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| Aluminum, stainless steel, and others
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| | forming a bond between the metals. To add
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| forms of metal are utilized to create a
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| | latches or handles to the sheet metal,
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| component for a larger piece, something
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| | hardware and fastener creation methods
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| that can be used to create an end
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| | are used.
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| product, or the end product itself.
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| | The Finishing Process
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| The Cutting Process
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| | After cutting the sheet metal and then
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| Sheet metal cutting involves a number of
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| | forming it into the shapes needed, it
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| ways to cut a piece of metal into smaller
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| | must go through a finishing process. In
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| pieces. These small pieces of metal can
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| | finishing, the sheet metal is sharpened
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| then be molded or formed into a final
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| | to eliminate or polish rough spots and
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| piece. One form of cutting is called
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| | edges using an abrasive.
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| shearing, which is used to cut larger
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| | After the finishing process, the sheet
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| pieces into smaller ones using the
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| | metal goes on to fulfill its next
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| process of shear stress on a cutting
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| | purpose. It is either shipped out as an
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| machine.
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| | end product, or if it is a smaller piece,
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| Another process is called Electrical
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| | it might be used on a larger component or
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| Discharge Machining, or EDM, in which
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| | product.
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| conductive materials are melted with an
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| | Saving Money on Sheet Metal Fabrication
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| electrode spark from a thin, charged
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| | There are companies today that specialize
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| electrode that is surrounded by iodized
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| | in the sheet metal fabrication business.
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| water.
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| | Their customers are usually companies
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| In abrasive cutting, grinders or saws are
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| | that sell or use an end product that is
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| used to cut through sheet metal.
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| | made of sheet metal, or a part of it is
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| Sometimes water jets are used. These
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| | made of metal.
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| generate no heat while cutting, but
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| | Instead of opening a factory to create
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| instead use high pressure water from
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| | their own metal products, a company might
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| 20,000 to 60,000 psi. There is also laser
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| | hire a sheet metal fabrication specialist
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| cutting where lasers are used for
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| | to do the work for them.
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| complex, or precise, cutting.
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| | This gives the company more time to focus
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| The Forming Process
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| | on marketing and promotion and can also
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| Once the sheet metal has been cut, it
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| | save money.
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| will be formed into its required shape to
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