How Custom Fabrication Works
Custom Material, Inc is a broad term that describes the methods used to create custom-made metal structures, components and products. It’s a versatile manufacturing practice that involves cutting, stamping, shaping, bending and welding. It’s also possible to add a variety of finishing processes like blasting, passivating and galvanizing to make the finished product more functional, durable or aesthetically appealing.
The need for custom fabrication arises when businesses require a solution that’s more precise, accurate or specialized than what off-the-shelf options can provide. This might include items that must meet stringent quality, performance or longevity requirements. Additionally, it’s not uncommon for companies to need something made out of an unusual or rare material that’s difficult to source through traditional mass production routes.
In such cases, custom metal fabrication can provide an ideal and cost-effective solution. The process usually begins with a design phase, where architects, designers or engineers use computer-aided software to create a blueprint for the desired product. Once the design is finalized, it’s sent to a manufacturer that specializes in metal fabrication. The fabricator can then use a variety of cutting techniques, such as laser or waterjet cutting, to cut the required materials. This can also involve other machining and shaping processes, such as shearing, milling, bending, forming, punching and welding.
Once the raw materials have been cut, shaped and welded, it’s time to put them all together. This can include complex assembly work, such as putting together a metal storage tank that may have a cylindrical body, a dome top, a conical bottom and various access doors or hatches. It could also include a more straightforward process, such as attaching fasteners or welding the elements of an industrial or commercial machine.
When it comes to plastics, custom fabrication is all about transforming the materials into precisely what you need. This can be anything from prototypes to large-scale industrial parts, and the possibilities are limited only by your imagination. The process usually starts with a design phase, where the idea or concept literally takes shape in sketches and mood boards. Depending on the specific project, the fabricator can then heat the plastics to make them pliable enough to bend or fold into the desired shapes, or even apply pressure with a mandrel or form. It’s possible to finish the edges of the new part in a variety of ways, including saw cut, flame polished, machine polished, hand polishing or beveled.
It’s important to understand when you need custom fabrication and how it works so that you can be sure your business is getting the most out of this useful service. The best way to do this is by partnering with a reliable and experienced provider that can offer you an extensive range of services, such as laser cutting, etching, punching, shearing, bending, tube and angle role framing, welding and possibly grinding. They can then deliver the end-product with a fast turnaround, which is particularly valuable for projects with tight deadlines or urgent needs for specialized equipment.