Key Takeaways:
- Sheet metal fabrication is the process of taking thin sheets of metal and combining them through cutting, bending, and assembling to create a final product.
- Welding is joining two metals using heat to create a bond.
- Fabricating sheet metal requires a standard set of tools, while welding employs many different instruments depending on the project.
- Different skill sets are necessary for each of these procedures by metalworkers.
- In general, businesses should do a risk assessment to develop effective health and safety policies for their employee.
As most people know, metal must go through a lot of processing before it can be used. Metal takes on its final shape due to intense pressure, heat, and work.
The two most significant methods of metalworking are welding and fabrication. Unfortunately, many individuals are unaware of the differences between these two approaches. In this blog post, Standard Roofing Company will break down the basics of sheet metal fabrication and welding so that you can better understand which process is right for your next project.
Defining Sheet Metal Fabrication:
Sheet metal fabrication is the process of taking thin sheets of metal and combining them through cutting, bending, and assembling to create a final product. This method often creates metal signs, ductwork, and enclosures and is used on roofs.
These are common methods in metal fabrication:
- Die-Cutting: Die-cutting applies a shear force to a low-strength material or sheet of metal to cut it with the aid of a pressing die.
- Punching: Punching is a shaping technique in which a die is firmly pressed against the sheet to pierce it with a hole using shear force.
- Hydroforming: It is a shaping technique that presses a die on a metal sheet using hydraulic pressure. In this method, the metal sheet is heated to room temperature before being crushed by the die to create the required shape. Ductile materials are frequently formed by hydroforming.
- Roll forming: It is the technique of bending a large metal sheet into the appropriate cross-section by passing it between strategically placed rollers.
- Spinning: It involves spinning a disk or tube on a high-speed chuck to create axially symmetrical components.
- Stamping: A hot metal manufacturing technique, stamping involves pressing a stamp against a metal sheet to produce the required form. In this method, the metal sheet is pressed into the required shape rather than cut.
- Finishing: The final but most crucial step in manufacturing metal is finishing. It entails applying an additional layer of coating to the product to prevent rust, enhance surface quality, and prevent tarnish.
Defining Welding:
The welding process joins two metals using heat to create a bond between them. It is also called metal forming, and it uses filler material and heat to attach the pieces of metal. This technique varies in applications, from small-scale projects like jewelry making to great feats such as building bridges.
There are many different types of welding, but the most common are:
- MIG welding: Gas metal arc welding is another name for metal-inert gas (MIG) welding. This method creates an electric arc when a consumable MIG electrode contacts a metal workpiece. The heat produced by the electric arc melts and unites two metal parts.
- TIG welding: This type of welding also uses an electric arc to create heat, but it also uses a non-consumable TIG electrode. This makes it ideal for projects that require more delicate work, such as thin welding sheets of metal.
- Plasma Arc Welding: Like TIG welding, plasma arc welding uses an electrode held in a torch and allows the plasma arc to be separated from the gas environment.
Key Differences:
Use of Different Tools:
A fabricator follows a standard set of procedures that require a certain set of tools while fabricating sheet metal. Metal sheets are first cut to the proper sizes to start the process. The fabricator may then shape and unite sheet metals to produce a product using lathes, grinders, drills, welds, sheet rollers, etc. In contrast, welding is a specialized process that employs many instruments depending on the welding. The most frequent welding supplies are clamps, replaceable electrodes, power supplies, auto-darkening helmets, etc.
Use of Different Techniques:
Welding is one of the many techniques used in sheet metal fabrication. It is a process that joins two pieces of metal together and can be performed using different welding techniques. Sheet metal fabrication involves various processes that serve different purposes, such as cutting dimensions or bending shapes.
Use of Different Skill Sets:
Different skill sets are necessary for each of these procedures by metalworkers. Fabricating sheet metal is more of a desk-top task. This implies that the workpiece must be adjusted according to the procedure using the tabletop nature of the metal fabricating equipment. For instance, if sheet rolling is to be done, the function of the roller must stay the same. Still, the length, breadth, and thickness must be adjusted in accordance with the roller’s capabilities. However, welding is one of the fabrication techniques in which welders need a certain set of abilities. They need to know the various filler materials and welding techniques that can be used.
Safety Rules:
In general, welding and fabrication businesses should do a risk assessment to develop an effective set of health and safety policies.
In the case of welding, this involves protecting employees from electric shocks by cleaning moist areas, wearing fire-rated clothes, and providing them with helmets, safety goggles, and other protective equipment.
Meanwhile, accidents caused by equipment abuse or electrical damage may pose threats to metal manufacturing. Workers must be provided with safety glasses, industrial earmuffs, lenses, hard helmets, eye protection, high-visibility gear, and other types of PPE to protect themselves against cuts and bruises.
Ending Note:
There are key differences between sheet metal fabrication and welding. However, both processes are essential in the metal industry. Make sure to take the necessary safety precautions when performing either one.
Standard Roofing Company has a long history of producing high-quality metalwork in Yukon. We are a sheet metal fabrication firm that takes pleasure in our craftsmanship and deliverables, no matter how difficult, large, or small the job is.
