In any discussion about how to cut metal, plasma cutting is right up there with laser and waterjet. The technology gets a bad rap, though, when the discussion turns to cutting aluminum. There are five preconceptions that many fabricators have about turning to plasma to cut aluminum. But according to three experts, new plasma cutting systems produce good results on aluminum.

The difference between a hydraulic press used to form metal stampings and a compression molding press used to form parts out of composite materials isn't that great. Could a metal former make the jump into composites forming? With a lesson in materials handling and some customers, a metal former might be able to make the jump.

Electric and hybrid electric-hydraulic press brakes give fabricators an energy-saving bending alternative.

Columnist Gerald Davis describes different approaches to sketching in a 3-D environment.

Skyline Steel, a subsidiary of ArcelorMittal, recognized in 2001 that for it to win contracts for high-end projects requiring high-pressure and high-strength steel spiral pipe, it would need to become more competitive in price. That's why the company turned to Servo-Robot Corp. and its AUTO-TRAC laser vision seam tracking for pipe welding.

For the best, most cost-effective parts, designers should consider fabrication from the get-go. This article shows examples of what those parts look like.