- FMA
- The Fabricator
- FABTECH
- Canadian Metalworking
Categories
- Additive Manufacturing
- Aluminum Welding
- Arc Welding
- Assembly and Joining
- Automation and Robotics
- Bending and Forming
- Consumables
- Cutting and Weld Prep
- Electric Vehicles
- En Español
- Finishing
- Hydroforming
- Laser Cutting
- Laser Welding
- Machining
- Manufacturing Software
- Materials Handling
- Metals/Materials
- Oxyfuel Cutting
- Plasma Cutting
- Power Tools
- Punching and Other Holemaking
- Roll Forming
- Safety
- Sawing
- Shearing
- Shop Management
- Testing and Measuring
- Tube and Pipe Fabrication
- Tube and Pipe Production
- Waterjet Cutting
Industry Directory
Webcasts
Podcasts
FAB 40
Advertise
Subscribe
Account Login
Search
The Fabricator September 2017
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.
Cleaning metal surfaces with a laser
- By Dan Davis
- Oct 7, 2017
- Laser Cutting
- Article
Laser Photonics wants metal fabricators to consider the use of a fiber laser for surface preparation, paint removal, and surface cleaning applications. The company believes the nonabrasive approach to cleaning is safer and more environmentally friendly than mechanical and chemical cleaning methods.
Fabricating fixtures before fabricating steel
- By Eric Lundin
- Sep 20, 2017
- Arc Welding
- Article
When internationally acclaimed sculptor Sir Antony Gormley needed a fabricator to build one of his projects on an East Coast college campus, his office staff found an ideal contractor when it contacted Summit Metal Fabricators. Although it consisted of hundreds of components and required welding dissimilar metals, Summit’s was ready, fortified with experience in construction, piping projects, and decorative metals.
Rethinking the coating and pretreatment relationship
While other coating and pretreatment suppliers look for new compounds that can replicate the performance of old compounds now outlawed because of environmental regulations, others saw an opportunity to pursue a new approach to parts cleaning and painting. That’s how Rugged Coatings brought Intuitive Coatings and CleanWirx together.
Gas tungsten arc welding goes deep
- By Tim Heston
- Sep 19, 2017
- Arc Welding
- Article
K-TIG, a variant of gas tungsten arc welding, introduces a unique keyhole, high speeds, and deep penetration. Those working with stainless, nickel-based alloys, and other specialty and corrosion-resistant materials have another welding technology to consider.
Press brake basics: Bending across the hem
- By Steve Benson
- Sep 18, 2017
- Bending and Forming
- Article
How do you calculate the bend functions for parts that involve hems as well as bends across those hems? A hem has a specific elongation factor. Otherwise, you run the calculations and determine the bend lines as you would for any other part.
Shop technology and 3-D CAD: Configuration tables and parametric links allow for quick switching between product variations
- By Gerald Davis
- Sep 18, 2017
- Shop Management
- Article
Columnist Gerald Davis discusses transforming a model for a single design into several models for a product line.
What makes a custom fabricator unique?
- By Tim Heston
- Sep 15, 2017
- Shop Management
- Article
A custom fabricator’s marketing message isn’t necessarily about technology and processing capabilities. After all, competing fabricators can buy identical equipment. Instead, the true “brand” of a custom fabricator is about people who are there to help.
Problem solving in metal fabrication: Look past the symptom to find the root cause
- By Jeff Sipes
- Sep 14, 2017
- Shop Management
- Article
Focus on the symptom, and the problem is bound to reoccur. Tackle the root cause, and you solve the problem for good.
Finding the right help still a concern for fabricators
- By Dan Davis
- Sep 14, 2017
- Shop Management
- Article
The U.S. has what appears to be a business-friendly president, and manufacturers are optimistic. But they still have the same main concern that they have had for the last six years: attracting and retaining skilled labor.
Press brake strategies: Boosting forming throughput
- Sep 13, 2017
- Bending and Forming
- Article
Boosting bending throughput requires a holistic approach. It’s not just about tool changeover, tryout bends, retrieving blanks, or delivering formed parts to the next operation. It’s about all of the above and more.
How integrating CAD and ERP drives improvement
- By Justin Werth
- Sep 13, 2017
- Manufacturing Software
- Article
Engineering change notifications require established, documented processes, but if the flow of information is flawed between CAD and ERP, troubles are sure to arise.
The story behind the light curtain on the press brake
- By Dan Davis
- Sep 12, 2017
- Bending and Forming
- Article
Alaso, a Lakeland, Fla.-based manufacturer of commercial chicken housing systems, was looking for a way to boost bending productivity without putting press brake operators in harm's way. It found its answer with an electric press brake with a built-in light curtain. The bending technology, while off-putting at first, is now embraced by even the most veteran of brake operators.
Overview of techniques for joining dissimilar materials
- By Paul Kah
- Sep 12, 2017
- Assembly and Joining
- Article
Combining lightweight, dissimilar materials—particularly metals and polymers—is becoming increasingly prevalent in the manufacture of lightweight assemblies in the aerospace and automotive industries. Hence, suitable joining methods are necessary to reliably integrate them. Understanding the various joining technologies that exist for metal-to-polymer hybrid assemblies will lead to optimal choices.
A fabricator's take on a combination machine
- By Dan Davis
- Sep 11, 2017
- Punching and Other Holemaking
- Article
P&A Metal Fab Inc., Clackamas, Ore., has the right mix of jobs that made the acquisition of a new laser/punching combination machine a no-brainer. The addition of a flexible material storage and delivery system and a loading and stacking robot has made the purchase look even smarter.
Press brake strategies: Bending the right part at the right time in the right way
- By Doug Wood
- Sep 7, 2017
- Bending and Forming
- Article
Bending simulation software brings prototyping into the virtual world; uncovers new tooling strategies and bend sequences for better production; and helps fabricators make more parts in less time.
- 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...
- Trending Articles
Tips for creating sheet metal tubes with perforations
JM Steel triples capacity for solar energy projects at Pennsylvania facility
Are two heads better than one in fiber laser cutting?
Supporting the metal fabricating industry through FMA
Omco Solar opens second Alabama manufacturing facility
- Industry Events
16th Annual Safety Conference
- April 30 - May 1, 2024
- Elgin,
Pipe and Tube Conference
- May 21 - 22, 2024
- Omaha, NE
World-Class Roll Forming Workshop
- June 5 - 6, 2024
- Louisville, KY
Advanced Laser Application Workshop
- June 25 - 27, 2024
- Novi, MI
- Upcoming Webcasts
Navigating Change: The Manufacturer’s Guide to Change Management with ERP Implementation
- May 16, 2024
- Sponsored
- Presented By: ECI Software Solutions, M1