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The Fabricator April 2008
The Fabricator is North America's leading magazine for the metal forming and fabricating industry. The magazine delivers the news, technical articles, and case histories that enable fabricators to do their jobs more efficiently. The Fabricator has served the industry since 1970.
Making the right choices for laser welding
- By Geoff Shannon
- Apr 15, 2008
- Laser Welding
- Article
Laser welding has evolved into a proven process, and it should match the application with the best-suited material. Learn laser welding basics from our experts.
Automotive and industrial: A tale of two businesses
- By Tim Heston
- Apr 15, 2008
- Tube and Pipe Fabrication
- Article
Embracing technology has given Microflex a firm foothold in the turbulent automotive marketplace.The Tier 2 supplier has garnered a reputation for advanced sheet metal forming, developing parts for exhaust, steering, and fuel system components. It has ISO 9001 and other quality certifications and has invested in software that will add traceability and cohesion throughout the automotive operation.
Getting creative with punch tooling
- By Andy Spence-Parsons
- Apr 15, 2008
- Punching and Other Holemaking
- Article
Keeping a lean program running takes time, effort, and teamwork. To make the most of lean—that is, to understand all of their options in eliminating waste—companies that do extensive work in punching should keep up with innovation in punching tooling. Two such innovations are tools that tap holes and tools that make tabs for sturdy locking joints.
Better tool management, better punching
- Apr 15, 2008
- Punching and Other Holemaking
- Article
McQuay international develops a strategy to prolong tool life for turret presses.
Educating beyond the arc
- By Tim Heston
- Apr 15, 2008
- Arc Welding
- Article
A new grant program promotes education for the welding technician. The program focuses more on welding theory behind the various processes--and less on hands-on training.
The right trace at the right time
- By Dan Davis
- Apr 15, 2008
- Shop Management
- Article
You won't find this tale on the DIY cable network, but it's a true story of do-it-yourself success for Ford Motor Co. Despite the sales struggles most North American automakers face, these companies still must move forward with plans to design and produce new models of automobiles. They can't...
Rolling to market - Part II
- By Dale Kroskey
- Apr 15, 2008
- Bending and Forming
- Article
A variety of methods help push a roll forming operation's efficiency. Various coil handling methods offer different levels of efficiency and automation, each suiting certain applications. The key is to analyze an operation, calculate the time spent handling coil, and then determine the best level of coil handling automation to fit.
Of cars, this specialty vehicle manufacturer can do it
- By Dan Davis
- Apr 15, 2008
- Shop Management
- Article
M&M Vehicles Corp., Mexico, Mo., is less a car company and more of a fabricating shop. That's been the case from the beginning when Chris Miller and another employee cut diamond-plate aluminum sheet with a Skil saw blade turned backwards and then hand-bent the sheet to form boxes that graced those early used golf cars.
Curving out a niche
- By Michael Bishop
- Apr 15, 2008
- Tube and Pipe Fabrication
- Article
In celebration of its 50th anniversary in April 2005, McDonald's® opened a 24,000-sq.-ft. restaurant in Chicago. The restaurant's most eye-catching feature is a pair of parabolic arches that stand 60 ft. high. Constructed from 20-in. by 12-in. tubes, the arches were curved by Chicago Metal Rolled Products, an OEM component subcontractor. Operating within a tight time frame, CMRP helped the structural steel fabricator and erector, Tefft Bridge & Iron LLC, by bending the tubes in multiple locations on longer sections to reduce the number of weld splices needed.
3D CAD modeling of sheet metal parts
- By Gerald Davis
- Apr 1, 2008
- Shop Management
- Article
The main variation in sheet metal modeling technique is when to let the 3D CAD system know that the part is to be treated as sheet metal. Columnist Gerald Davis walks us through three different ways to accomplish this.
- Podcasting
- Podcast:
- The Fabricator Podcast
- Published:
- 04/16/2024
- Running Time:
- 63:29
In this episode of The Fabricator Podcast, Caleb Chamberlain, co-founder and CEO of OSH Cut, discusses his company’s...
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