Fabrication is a core part of the manufacturing process, transforming raw materials into finished or semi-finished products. This involves a wide range of techniques, primarily applied to metals, but also encompassing materials like laminates, wood, and solid surface materials.
Key fabrication processes
- Cutting : This involves separating or removing material to achieve a desired shape or size. Techniques range from traditional sawing and shearing to modern methods like laser, plasma, and waterjet cutting. The choice of cutting method depends on factors like material type, thickness, and precision requirements.
- Forming : This involves bending or distorting materials, typically metals, to create parts and components without adding or removing material. Examples include rolling (passing material through rollers to reduce thickness) and extrusion (forcing material through a die).
- Machining : This refers to the removal of material from a solid block to create a desired shape. Common machining operations include drilling, turning, and milling.
- Casting : This involves heating a material (often metal) to its melting point and pouring it into a specially designed mold. The material cools and solidifies within the mold, creating the desired shape. Casting is particularly suited for creating complex shapes in a single operation.