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Articles - Page 233
- From The Fabricator
Managing maintenance for laser cutting machines
- By Claudio Schutz
- Jan 15, 2015
- Laser Cutting
- Article
Unscheduled downtime is an incredible headache for a busy fabricating operation. An adherence to a smart maintenance schedule and empowering a maintenance team can eliminate these production surprises.
- From The Fabricator
Rethinking the production meeting
- By Dan Davis
- Jan 12, 2015
- Shop Management
- Article
Metal fabricators are better at manufacturing than holding meetings, but some sort of regularly occurring production meeting is needed to get everyone on the same page. Several fabricators offer their opinions as to what works best for them in their production powwow.
- From The Fabricator
Improving quality through good change: Metcam tackles kaizen
- By Bruce Hagenau
- Jan 9, 2015
- Shop Management
- Article
All manufacturers seek to improve processes and ROI. Alpharetta, Ga.-based Metcam, a fabricator of sheet metal components and assemblies, has seen significant improvement since beginning its kaizen initiative in late 2013. What follows is the company’s blueprint for kaizen success.
- From The Fabricator
Pushing the solid-state laser speed limit
- Jan 9, 2015
- Laser Cutting
- Article
Solid-state lasers theoretically could cut through thin sheet at up to 1,000 meters per minute, though no machine in the world can drive a laser at that speed. But new approaches to laser cutting are bringing laser cutting speeds closer to the theoretical maximum.
- From The Fabricator
Safety and regulatory overview for powder coating
- By Michael Streepey
- Jan 8, 2015
- Finishing
- Article
Like any manufacturing process, powder coating has the potential to be dangerous if the right safety precautions haven’t been taken. By referencing a few key standards, a manufacturer can keep the powder coating line going and the operators safe.
- From The Fabricator
Flying high at FABTECH
- By Tim Heston
- Jan 8, 2015
- Shop Management
- Article
More than 30,000 visited the FABTECH 2014, a show that had several dominant themes: skilled labor, intuitive manufacturing technology, and supply chain collaboration.
- From The Welder
Aluminum Workshop: Welding 6061-T6 without filler metal; choosing shielding gas for GMAW
- By Frank Armao
- Jan 6, 2015
- Aluminum Welding
- Article
Q: I’m trying to use gas tungsten arc welding (GTAW) without filler metal to join 6061-T6, and almost every weld I make cracks. What’s going on? A: A common aluminum alloy, 6061-T6 is welded every day, so we assume it must be easy to weld. Unfortunately, it isn’t. In fact, 6061 and the other...
- From The Welder
Aluminum Workshop: Welding Extruded Aluminum
- By Frank Armao
- Jan 6, 2015
- Aluminum Welding
- Article
Our experts answer questions about welding anodized aluminum involving anodized 6061-T6 extruded tubing 7075 series aluminum welds. Learn more here.
- From The Welder
Aluminum Workshop: Choosing an aluminum alloy
- By Frank Armao
- Jan 5, 2015
- Aluminum Welding
- Article
Q: I have a project I want to build from aluminum sheet and extrusions. Some of my friends tell me to make it entirely from 6061-T6. Other tell me to use other alloys, mostly 5000 series. The project entails a lot of welding. Which alloy should I use? A: Without knowing more details about your...
- From The Welder
Aluminum Workshop: What is cast and helix?
- By Frank Armao
- Jan 5, 2015
- Aluminum Welding
- Article
What are cast and helix? Find out how cast and helix are two separate attributes of spooled wires intended for gas metal arc welding (GMAW) and more.
- From The Welder
Aluminum Workshop: Understanding AC and HAZ ‘cracks’
- By Frank Armao
- Jan 2, 2015
- Aluminum Welding
- Article
Q: I know that when aluminum alloys are gas tungsten arc-welded (GTAW), usually we use alternating current (AC) because it give some sort of cleaning action. Can you explain what it is and how it works? A: Sure, let’s try. But before I start, let me admit that this explanation is a bit of a...
- From The Welder
Aluminum Workshop: Defining arc rectification
- By Frank Armao
- Jan 2, 2015
- Aluminum Welding
- Article
Q: Sometimes when I’m AC gas tungsten arc welding (GTAW) aluminum, the arc will start to flutter for a while. I can see it and hear it. Usually it goes away after a few seconds. What’s going on? A: First of all, the good news is that you’re not imagining it. This phenomenon is fairly common...
- From The Welder
Aluminum Workshop: Using 4043 versus 4047 filler wire
- By Frank Armao
- Dec 30, 2014
- Aluminum Welding
- Article
Q: I usually use 4043 filler wire for welding 6061-T6 and castings. My friend told me I should switch to 4047 because it’s stronger. Is that true? It’s more expensive than 4043. Is it worth it? A: As you know, 4043 and 5356 are the most common aluminum filler alloys. In fact, these two alloys...
- From The Welder
Aluminum Workshop: How to prep aluminum for welding
- By Frank Armao
- Dec 29, 2014
- Aluminum Welding
- Article
Frank Armao answers a question regarding the best way to clean aluminum before welding.
- From The Welder
Aluminum Workshop: Fabricating aluminum planters
- By Frank Armao
- Dec 29, 2014
- Aluminum Welding
- Article
Have a question about fabricating aluminum planters? Frank Armao explains what aluminum and fillers to use when welding plant boxes. Find out more here.
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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.
start your free subscription- Podcasting
- Podcast:
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- Published:
- 04/16/2024
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- 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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