Category: Tips and Tricks

Metal fabrication is used in many industries, from constructing new buildings to creating custom parts. If you’re getting involved in metal fabrication or looking for ways to improve your results, learning from the experts can help. Here are some expert tips to help you get better results while saving money.

Understand the Material You’re Working With

One of the most essential tips from experts in metal fabrication is to have a solid understanding of the materials you’re working with. Different metals react differently to heat, welding, and cutting processes, and understanding that before you start is very important. Popular metals like steel, aluminum, and stainless steel each have unique qualities and need different methods to work with them. Learning their strengths and weaknesses before starting can save time and avoid mistakes.

Start with a Clear Design

Before anything, it’s essential to have a straightforward design in mind before starting. Use basic sketches or CAD software to visualize the part. The more detailed your design is, the better. This will help you plan, understand the project timeline, and determine the materials you’ll be working with.

Choose the Coil-Fed Approach

One way to improve your metal fabrication process is by choosing the coil-fed approach. This method involves feeding the metal directly from coils instead of using pre-cut sheets, making it easier to maintain consistent quality and speed. This approach is perfect for large projects and tight deadlines. 

Double Check Your Measurements

One tiny error in measurements can lead to costly mistakes or wasted materials. The best way to avoid this is to double-check your measurements before cutting, welding, or bending. Using digital measuring tools can make the process easier and more accurate.

Consider Tolerances

Tolerances refer to how much variation is acceptable in the dimensions of your part. Small tolerances require high precision. If your part needs tight tolerances, ensure you’re using equipment and methods designed for that level of detail. Knowing this in advance can prevent costly mistakes. 

Think About Post-Fabrication Needs

After the metal is shaped, you might need to do extra work, such as welding, painting, or polishing. Consider these extra steps early in your design process to ensure the metal is prepared to handle them. Knowing these needs upfront can streamline your whole project.

Receive a Free Metal Fabrication Quote in New England

These tips can help you make more intelligent, cost-effective decisions during fabrication. Whether you’re a starting or a seasoned pro, Markham Metals is here to assist you! Our expert team is ready to guide you through every step, ensuring great results in your next metal fabrication project. For more information and to receive a free quote, call 978-658-1121 or fill out our contact form!

Corrosion manifests in diverse forms, typically affecting metal components simultaneously. The combination of metals within a component and its exposure to varied environments often facilitates multiple types of corrosion. Environments may induce local corrosion types like pitting, crevice, intergranular, stress, and galvanic corrosion. Even a single metal alloy can experience various forms of corrosion based on its exposure to different environments across different parts of a system. In this blog, we will explore the four different types of corrosion and what makes each of them happen.

Cracking Due to Stress Corrosion

Stress corrosion cracking (SCC) is a type of galvanic corrosion where mechanical and chemical forces, which might otherwise be harmless to a material, cause crack propagation, often at a microscopic level. If not detected early, SCC can lead to the sudden and unexpected failure of metals that are normally ductile. For SCC to occur, three conditions must be met: the presence of applied or residual stresses, exposure to a corrosive aqueous medium such as chlorides or hydrogen sulfide, and elevated temperatures.

Pitting Corrosion On Metals

Pitting corrosion occurs when the protective oxide layer on a stainless steel component is compromised by exposure to a corrosive water solution. This damage leads to an electrochemical reaction where the unprotected metal loses electrons through oxidation, resulting in the formation of small cavities known as “pits.” While pitting corrosion can often be detected through visual inspection, the full extent of the damage may not be immediately apparent. In some cases, the pits can become so deep that they perforate the material. 

Common Erosion Corrosion

Erosion corrosion occurs when a corrosive liquid flows over a metal surface, accelerating its deterioration. This type of wear is typically visible to the naked eye and leads to the formation of grooves, craters, or valleys on the metal’s surface.

Crevice Corrosion

Crevice corrosion happens when the protective layer on a metal is damaged and occurs in the gaps or crevices between surfaces, like where the tubing meets supports or clamps. These crevices can trap dirt and deposits, making them hard to avoid during installations and posing a serious risk to stainless steel’s durability.

Top Metal Fabrication Company In New England

If you are looking for premium metal fabrication and delivery services, you have come to the right place. Markham Metals has been serving the Northeast for over thirty years with its premium custom metal services. Our family-run business prides itself on customer satisfaction and quality products. Our contact is the only one you need to save on your device. For the best and most affordable metal fabrication, come to Markham Metals. To get started on a free metal quote, call us at 978-658-1121 or fill out our online contact form.

Metal fabrication is a critical manufacturing process that shapes metal into parts or end products using various techniques, with welding being just one of them. Although most people associate metal fabrication primarily with welding, it involves multiple methods to form sheet metal into diverse items. This process is essential for creating a wide array of products, ranging from paper clips to airplane components. It is integral to nearly every industry despite being widely misunderstood by the general public. In this blog, we will review what metal fabrication is and how this industry is so influential.

What Is The Metal Fabrication Process?

The metal fabrication process is done with precision, involving multiple steps that begin with design and end with a finished, functional part. Initially, businesses may provide a completed design or prototype, which is refined using Computer Aided Design (CAD) or Computer Aided Manufacturing (CAM) to create a 3D prototype. This phase not only ensures the product’s functionality but also clarifies the size, shape, materials, and finishing techniques needed. The fabrication step carried out with tools like shears, mills, lathes, and CNC machines, is a process that ensures every component is cut and shaped with utmost precision according to the design specifications. Finally, finishing processes such as grinding, deburring, heat treatment, and plating are applied to strengthen the product, while marking and printing add measurements, logos, and other required details, further enhancing the product’s quality and precision.

Types Of Industries That Use Metal Fabrication

Metal fabrication has diverse industry applications, including commercial and military aircraft parts, agricultural equipment, alternative energy components for solar, wind, and geothermal structures, automotive and recreational vehicle parts, construction materials and supports, food-safe processing and packaging equipment, consumer products like home appliances and car seats, military defense tools and communication equipment, and fracking tanks and pumps.

Examples Of Fabricated Metals

Most metal fabrication uses sheet metal up to 0.25 inches thick, which fabricators convert into products or tools by stamping, folding, shaping, or joining. Examples of products made from fabricated metal include hand tools, bolts, nuts, screws, cans, cutlery, pipes and pipe fittings, metal windows and doors, equipment attachments, and car parts.

Get A Free Metal Fabrication Quote From Markham Metals In New England

For your metal fabrication needs, contact Markham Metals, a precision metal fabricator based in New England, which has been serving the area for over 30 years. Our experienced engineers and fabricators create parts for a variety of industries, offering a wide range of services and value-added processing to serve as your one-stop shop for custom metal fabrication. Reach out today for a free quote by filling out our online contact form or giving us a call at 978-658-1121.