A beginner’s guide to custom metal fabrication

Custom metal fabrication is the process of cutting, shaping, and assembling metal parts to create structures or products. From car parts to kitchen equipment, metal fabrication is used in many industries. This guide will help you understand the basics of sheet metal fabrication, how it works and why it’s important.

Table of Contents

What Is Metal Fabrication?

Metal fabrication is when raw metals are turned into useful items. This could be something simple, like a metal shelf, or something more complex, like a machine part. Fabricators use tools and machines to cut, bend, and join the metal in specific ways.

Basic Fabrication Techniques

Here are some common methods used in metal fabrication:

Cutting – Using saws, lasers, or plasma cutters to cut metal into shapes.

Bending – A cold-working technique, using machines to bend the metal into angles or curves, used in the aerospace, construction and automotive industries.

Welding – Joining two pieces of metal by heating them to their melting point and fusing their edges, forming a strong bond.

Assembling – Putting metal parts together using bolts, welding, or rivets.

Benefits of Custom Metal Fabrication

The metal in sheet metal fabrication, like at https://dkmsheetmetal.co.uk, can easily be bent, cut and shaped into many different forms without losing its strength. This flexibility lets you create custom parts for unique projects or designs.
Custom-made metal parts are usually better quality. They’re built to handle specific conditions, so they last longer and don’t break easily.
Stronger, longer-lasting, and more resilient products.
While the initial investment in custom fabrication may be higher than standard components, the long-term savings will be significant because there will be reduced maintenance needed, and a longer potential product lifespan.