Everyone in metal fabrication is probably familiar with the rolling machine, be it of the initial-pinch, three-roll double-pinch, three-roll translating geometry, or four-roll variety. Each has its limitations and advantages, but they also share a common trait: They roll sheet and plate in the horizontal position. A less familiar approach involves rolling in a vertical …
Sheet metal rolling goes vertical for tank manufacturers Read More »
With advances in abrasive technology, machining center operators can complete surface finishing simultaneously with other machining operations to speed cycle times, improve quality and save on offline finishing time and costs. As a result, contract machine shops are increasingly turning to abrasive finishing tools that can be integrated easily into CNC machine carousels or toolholding …
The Case for Abrasive Finishing Tools in CNC Applications Read More »
Technological change has reached a furious pace in some parts of the manufacturing world. In other places, some traditional means of fabricating still hold out. The reasons are familiar. Acquiring new technology may be viewed as cost-prohibitive for some companies. Others simply believe if the process is not broken, why bother to fix it. Competitive …
The laser cutting kilowatt race is back on. It happened with CO2 machines in the 1990s and 2000s, and it’s happening again now with fiber lasers. There’s a place for today’s ultrahigh-powered systems, but lower powers have their place too. So, what laser power fits your operation? You might start by diving into the material …
How much laser cutting power does a metal fabricator need? Read More »
We’re told Industry 4.0 is an industrial revolution as significant as the transition from cottage industries to the Henry Ford assembly line. Such transitions take years, and Industry 4.0 is no different. The puzzle pieces are starting to appear. The challenge is seeing how they all fit together. To find out, let’s try a thought …
What will the future metal fabricator look like? Read More »
The reasons that a product designer recommends a powder-coat finish are numerous. This dry finishing process is proven after being used in North American industry since the 1960s. If applied correctly, the finish is very durable, much more so than a typical liquid coating. The finishing process is considered to be environmentally friendly because the …
What else is available in powder coating finishes? Read More »
A young entrepreneur invests his savings in a new trash-hauling business. He buys a new garbage truck and decks it out with his name, number, and a fancy new logo. He cleans it up for an afternoon photo shoot, and while reviewing the pictures he notices a rusty stream making its way down the side …
Captain America, amid an otherworldly onslaught, has hope. While in the middle of an impossible battle for the soul of planet Earth, he knows he has a ringer. “Dr. Banner, now might be a good time for you to get angry,” Captain America said. “That’s my secret, Captain: I’m always angry.” Bruce then turns toward …
Playing with Fire: Dissecting the Hulk-like beast that is oxyacetylene in the fab shop Read More »
Collaborative robots have come a long way during the past decade, particularly in metal manufacturing. They began as a curiosity. Some shops purchased a cobot or two just to see what they could do with them. Yes, they could perform light pick-and-place tasks, but that has limited applicability in sheet metal and plate fabrication. What …
How the welding cobot changes the metal fabrication shop Read More »
Metal fabrication is a broad term referring to any process that cuts, shapes, or molds metal material into a final product. Instead of an end product being assembled from ready-made components, fabrication creates an end product from raw or semi-finished materials. There are many different fabrication manufacturing processes. Metal fabrication is used for both custom …
