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The Fabricator July 2021
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.
Finding a calling as a metal artist
- By Amanda Carlson
- Jul 31, 2021
- Arc Welding
- Article
Colorado-based metalworker Jodie Bliss discusses how welding, blacksmithing, and background in jewelry making helped her find her true calling as a metal artist.
The fundamentals of follow-through in continuous improvement
- By Jeff Sipes
- Jul 30, 2021
- Shop Management
- Article
On any lean manufacturing journey, follow-through in continuous improvement is a must for metal fabricators and manufacturers. It’s not complicated, just common sense. And it’s ignored far too often.
Welding power sources trend toward user utility
- By Kate Bachman
- Jul 29, 2021
- Arc Welding
- Article
Miles of good weld are laid down in the line of work, holding everything together from brackets to ships. What’s power got to do with it? Nothing can happen without the power source that sends electric current to the welder’s gun. So, what’s new with welding machines? Experts from ESAB, Miller, and Fronius weigh in.
CAD shortcuts for a weldment
- By Gerald Davis
- Jul 29, 2021
- Manufacturing Software
- Article
CAD expert Gerald Davis walks through the design and documentation of a welded frame.
Is a punch/laser machine right for your operation?
- By Jeff Tyl
- Jul 28, 2021
- Punching and Other Holemaking
- Article
As with any technology, punch/laser machines have their advantages and disadvantages for some shops. Considering them all will help metal fabricators determine if such a machine is a good fit.
The separation of lead generation and sales in manufacturing
- By Anthony M. Colarusso
- Jul 27, 2021
- Shop Management
- Article
Leads feed the sales pipeline in the manufacturing industry. But for many reasons, lead generation and sales should remain separate functions for some metal fabrication shops.
How a fab shop can develop a sheet metal bending champion
- By Jonah Higgs
- Jul 26, 2021
- Bending and Forming
- Article
With all the different personalities that contribute to a successful metal fabrication business, how do they go about converting a complex manufacturing process like bending sheet metal into a seamless work flow? To achieve this, shops must take a critical and challenging step: Develop a technical press brake champion.
Metal fabrication through team collaboration
- By Tim Heston
- Jul 23, 2021
- Shop Management
- Article
A metal fabrication shop manager might push a cross-training initiative, but that could be a temporary fix to a larger problem: the siloed nature of an entire manufacturing organization. Bill Ritchie says true collaboration is leveraged through quick-response manufacturing (QRM),
How manufacturing technology uproots tradition for some metal fab shops
- By Tim Heston
- Jul 22, 2021
- Shop Management
- Article
The skilled labor shortage continues unabated in the pandemic recovery. Technological change continues unabated too. The two together uproot shop floor tradition.
Weld monitoring with cameras, then and now
- By Elaina Klimek
- Jul 21, 2021
- Arc Welding
- Article
Exploring the history of weld monitoring cameras over the past 70 years shows advancements in the technology, from optical filters to high-dynamic-range imaging.
Rethinking what plasma cutting can do for metal fabricators
- By Dan Davis
- Jul 19, 2021
- Plasma Cutting
- Article
Advances in plasma cutting technology have the potential to make life easier for metal fabricators and service centers that cut a lot of thick ferrous and nonferrous materials. Here are some questions that can help plate processors understand what plasma cutting technology has to offer.
How to deal with angular variation on the press brake
- By Steve Benson
- Jul 16, 2021
- Bending and Forming
- Article
Modern press brakes and precision-ground tools are made with precision air forming in mind. If machine operators run into trouble, they should verify forming method and check the material.
Using hand-held laser welder technology for manual welding
- By Dan Davis
- Jul 14, 2021
- Laser Welding
- Article
LightWELD's hand-held laser welder brings laser welding to the hands of the manual welder. Learn more about these hand-held welder guns from our experts.
Laser myths: What fabricators don’t know can hurt the process
- By John McCauley
- Jul 13, 2021
- Laser Cutting
- Article
If an industrial laser cutter is supposed to operate as it is designed, machine operators need to regularly measure the laser, collect the data, and analyze it to ensure optimum performance. Here are 5 myths that separate fact from fiction.
A metal fabricator focused on professional (and personal) growth
- By Tim Heston
- Jul 12, 2021
- Shop Management
- Article
Ohio-based metal fabrication shop Rexarc could remain a small company and focus on the same acetylene-generation market it has for decades. Or it could broaden its manufacturing market. Company leaders chose the latter option.
- 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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