Category Archive: Metal Fabrication

How to Choose the Right Industrial Metal Fabricator

When searching for the ideal metal fabricator for your needs, service providers may all start to look alike. However, even if multiple companies share the same service offerings, there are numerous other factors that will help you determine if a fabrication company is right for you. For example, look for a metal fabricating company that offers the optimal balance between quality and price. Additionally, your fabrication partner should be able to meet your deadlines, deal in the materials and order volumes that best fit your application, and fall within your budget. Having a solid understanding of what you need and researching metal fabrication companies thoroughly before partnering with one will help ensure that you receive the high-quality goods you expect.

What to Consider When Choosing a Metal Fabrication Company

To find a service provider that’s a good fit for your metal fabrication needs., search out examples of a fabricator’s reputation and past work, including:

• Company reviews
• Case studies
• Customer testimonials
• Product samples

You may also wish to take a facility tour. Gathering this information will help you weigh factors like commitment to quality, state-of-the-art equipment, and customer service.

Quality Materials and Fabrication

Quality is obviously one of the most important factors when choosing an industrial metal fabricator, and quality products start with quality materials. The ideal metal fabricator will use high-quality materials that best suits your product.

Finding a service provider with experience working in your industry and, if possible, on your specific type of components will help you ensure a positive outcome for your project. They should also have the ability to achieve close tolerances for reliable accuracy, achieving all of this within your budget. You might ask the fabrication company for a sample, possibly even of your unique part, to help you gain a better perspective on their capabilities for quality before you sign on with them.

Applicable Equipment and Technological Advancements

Reputable metal fabrication companies are typically equipped with advanced machinery, cutting-edge software, automation technology, and more to support efficient processes and high-quality end products. Automated computer numerical control (CNC) equipment, for example, quickly produces precise, uniform, and repeatable metal components, regardless of the profile complexity or production run size. The metal fabrication company you choose should prioritize efficiency and have the ability to keep up with your production timeframe.

Determine if the fabricator in question uses the equipment and fabrication processes that are optimal for your specific application and if they have the capacity to scale operations. Also, ask about the future of their shop, particularly their plans for equipment upgrades when newer technology becomes available. Ideally, should you have large, recurring orders with this company, they will be amenable to making an investment in such equipment to customize their options to your needs.

Quality Assurance

Metalworking facilities must meet certain quality standards and safety ratings based on industry requirements, local and federal regulations, etc. Make sure that your fabrication partner is familiar with all applicable standards for your specific operation and has any necessary certifications. You’ll also want to discover if the fabricator has process checks in place to guarantee product quality throughout design and production and if they have inspection capabilities, as well.

Comprehensive and Transparent Customer Support

With any company you work with, reliable and transparent communication is key for a successful long-term business relationship. The point of contact at your fabrication partner should reply to calls and emails promptly, speak candidly about pricing and scheduling, and be knowledgeable about your account and their own service offerings.

The best metalworking companies will provide you with personalized attention, giving you the support you need to ensure products arrive on time, as expected, and within budget. Should there ever be an issue, you want to work with a company that is proactive and can quickly address any concerns you might have.

Why Choose Metal Craft Spinning and Stamping

Metal Craft Spinning and Stamping is a family-operated, full-service metal fabrication company utilizing cutting-edge metal spinning, stamping, laser cutting, and automation techniques and equipment to produce high-quality products for diverse industries worldwide. Since 1969, we’ve specialized in customized metal parts, with myriad options for size, shape, and material construction. Our skilled engineering team can meet your needs for performance and aesthetics, working closely with you from the initial design and prototyping stages through low- to high-volume production runs.

We’re committed to offering quality services, innovative and precise fabrications, on-time delivery, and personalized customer support. Request a quote today to get started on your industrial metal fabrication project with Metal Craft.

Hydroforming vs. Metal Stamping

Both hydroforming and metal stamping are efficient metal shaping methods. However, their shaping methods are vastly different from one another and offer certain advantages depending on the application. The unique characteristics that make hydroforming ideal for one project can be the very things that make metal stamping the better choice for another project, making it very important to understand the differences between the two methods.

If you’re deciding between hydroforming and metal stamping for your next project, here are some considerations to keep in mind.

Hydroforming

Hydroforming uses high-pressure fluids to form metal parts made from ductile materials, such as stainless steel, carbon steel, copper, or aluminum into specific shapes. These fluids enable hydroforming to produce intricate shapes that other methods cannot and is ideal for applications that require the creation of asymmetrical, complex, or long and shallow components.

Hydroforming’s broad design freedom, high material utilization, reduced part weight, high mechanical strength, and improved dimensional accuracy contributes to its popularity as the chosen manufacturing method for many industries such as automotive, lighting, and appliance industries.

The Hydroforming Process includes the following steps:

• A round disk of metal is first placed over a pre-designed molding tool—either a mechanically driven mandrel or solid female die.
• Hydraulic fluid is pumped at high pressure into a chamber sealed by a strong, flexible rubber diaphragm.
• The hydraulic fluids place pressure on the diaphragm to counter the force of the mandrel to facilitate deep drawing applications. Alternatively, the pressure can be used to force the metal into the female mold to produce shallow convex and concave shapes.
• Pressure is released from the forming chamber.
• The punch is retracted.
• The formed part is removed.

Advantages of Hydroforming

• One comprehensive tool: No mating part is needed and modifications are much simpler, which reduces tooling costs.
• Reduced weight: Because hydroforming is not a subtractive process, thinner materials can be used for the blank, resulting in a lighter end product.
• Minimal to no waste: The material can be precut before entering the hydraulic press, reducing waste.
• Reduced spring back: Increased strength obtained from hydroforming is especially helpful in reducing spring back in closed sections, such as a can or cup.
• Few abrasions: Working with high-pressure fluid, rather than compression, means fewer abrasions.
• Smooth finishes: Hydroforming produces beautifully smooth finishes that require little to no secondary processing.

Metal Stamping

Metal stamping uses pre-formed dies to compress metal sheets and round disks into the desired shape. This process is often chosen for both high-volume and short-run productions due to its low-cost, high-speed process that can produce a high volume of identical metal components. Metal stamping is a traditional technique known for its outstanding repeatability and is ideal for simple components. The Metal Stamping process can leave scoring on the final product making it ideal for products that don’t need a presentable finish without touchups.

The Metal Stamping process includes the following steps:

• Dies and tools are chosen depending on the project.
• Selected tools are attached to the press.
• A flat metal sheet is then manually or automatically fed between the tool and the press.
• The press then compresses the sheet metal against the tool, which forces the metal into the desired shape.
• The formed part is removed.

Advantages of Metal Stamping:

• Consistent, accurate, & repeatable: Once a die is designed, it can produce identical components indefinitely, yielding repeatable accuracy.
• Higher quality components: Consistent, repeatable processes yield high-quality components.
• Cost-efficient: Dies can be affordable tooling options, and the ability to produce high volumes of product quickly makes metal stamping a cost-efficient option.
• Timely: Metal stamping offers high-speed production without sacrificing quality, delivering product gets to market more quickly.
• Exceptional precision: For short-run metal stamping, the inside of a part can be kept within +/- .02-.03 inch of its die.

Hydroforming & Metal Stamping from Metal Craft S&S

Whether hydroforming or metal stamping is the best choice for your project, Metal Craft is committed to quality in both our metal fabrication processes and our customer service. From one-off metal components to a full production run, our knowledge, experience, and extensive equipment resources mean we can provide you with superior metal component forming solutions.

Our commitment to quality, on-time delivery, and personalized customer service began four generations ago and continues today. Contact us or request a quote online for additional information about our hydroforming and metal stamping capabilities and to experience our world-class customer service.