This article was developed from the Comparative Cutting Panel conducted at the Fabricators & Manufacturers Association's Metal Matters conference in Orlando, Fla., March 2008. The participants included Rick Neff (Cincinnati Incorporated), Chris Maier (Flow International), Jeff Hahn (MC Machinery Systems Inc./Mitsubishi Laser), Ron Schneider (Messer MG Systems & Welding Inc.), and Al Julian (W.A. Whitney Co., a division of MegaFab).

Conventional tube bending data, regardless of format, is entered manually and therefore susceptible to errors. A modern approach involves using a CAD system to generate a STEP file, which the CAD program exports directly to the bending machine. This method is fast and eliminates errors. The drawback is that such a system requires additional database management efforts.

Folding advancements allow a single beam to fold in both positive, negative directions.

Columnist Gerald Davis provides the reader with a brief overview of some of the handy 3-D CAD tools he uses when doing basic modeling techniques.

Advanced high strength steels spur stampers to think about metal forming in new ways.

California is on the leading edge of environmental protectionism, and because it is such a large industrial market, the state's environmental regulations are influencing what metal fabricators might be drivng in their facilities.

Not only can today's laser optics handle more power, they also enhance beam quality, reduce maintenance, increase power delivered to the cutting head, and improve mode stability.

Welding and cutting, which accounts for 1 percent of structure fires and 4 percent of nonhousehold property damage, is the most dangerous type of hot work, according to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA). Companies that weld and cut should take specific steps to increase safety and minimize the risk of torch fires. Hot work, by its nature, has a lot of hazards. Companies and their hot-work operators can protect their safety and their facilities by keeping combustibles away from welding and cutting operations; using new safety features; staying aware of conditions; and knowing and following instructions provided on the precautionary labels and in OSHA, ANSI, and NFPA standards.

Dynamic Structures has fabricated huge structures across North America. But this project--two ski jumps for the Vancouver 2010 games--was different.