If you are working in a metal-related industry, you must have a basic knowledge of the terminology in the business. There are many terms which are used interchangeably. One of them is sheet metal manufacturing and sheet metal fabrication. The meanings of these two terms are very different and these are two very different processes.
If you use one term for the other in front of a novice metal fabricator, you might have a problem on your hands.
Thus, read this blog and acquaint yourself with these two terms, their differences, and why it matters.
What Is Sheet Metal Manufacturing?
Sheet Metal Manufacturing is the process of creating sheet metals with raw materials. There are multiple processes involved in sheet metal manufacturing. It is a large-scale operation that is not aimed at a specific industry.
Sheet metals are readily available in the market, or you can get them custom-manufactured. Some industries require a specific alloy or material. Thus, every industry requires reliable sheet metal suppliers in Phoenix and Mesa who can fulfill the need.
Whether you need custom metal or readily available sheet metal, you should learn about the steps and processes involved in manufacturing sheet metal.
Metal Selection: Sheet metal manufacturing applies to many metals, including steel, aluminum, copper, iron, etc. You can source the raw material or readily available sheet metals based on your needs.
Embossing: Sheet metals are often embossed to create complex shapes on the sheet metal surface. It requires a die and punch set to emboss a certain shape or design in the metal.
Rolling and Cutting: Rolling involves passing the sheet metal through a set of rollers to achieve the desired thickness. Cutting sheet metal is a fundamental process wherein sheets are cut into smaller sizes. Different techniques are used to cut the metal into certain sizes. Also, it is a process common in sheet metal manufacturing and fabrication.
Coating and Finishing: Once sheet metal is cut and ready to ship, it is coated with a protective covering. It might involve paint or powder coating. Sometimes, abrasion and other techniques are used to render the metal a distinct look. Also, the coating and furnishing improve the durability and resistance of the metal against environmental factors.
What is Sheet Metal Fabrication?
Sheet metal fabrication is the process of rendering sheet metal useful for specific applications. Unlike sheet metal manufacturing, which focuses on large-scale production, sheet metal fabrication aims to create custom components. For example, the automotive and manufacturing industries require different sheet sizes and alloys, thus focusing on specific fabrication processes.
The key processes involved in metal fabrication are:
Sheet Metal Laser Cutting and Shearing: Considering that the fabrication is aimed at industries, the precision level required determines the choice of techniques for sheet metal cutting. Many techniques are used for the same such as laser cutting and shearing, waterjet cutting, hydraulic shearing, etc. One must also know that shearing and cutting are two distinct methods.
Sheet Metal Bending: Bending machines bend sheet metal in distinct shapes. To maintain the material’s integrity, bending is used. Also, it reduces metal wastage. Modern machines can bend sheet metals into complex shapes without disrupting their inherent strength and causing burrs and cracks.
Sheet Metal Notching: Notching is the process of removing metal from the edges of a sheet. Preparing the sheet metal for further processing, assembly, or removing the burred edges is crucial.
Welding and Assembly: Welding refers to fusing two metal parts. Welding is used when there is a need for a strong joint to lend strength to the overall structure or components. Assembly is putting all the components together to finish the product.
Custom Metal Fabrication: It refers to any other process or step to create tailored components for specific industrial applications.
Why Does It Matter?
It matters a lot to distinguish between the two processes because each process serves a distinct purpose. The terms shouldn’t be too loosely and interchangeably. Here is why it matters:
Clear communication
Manufacturing and fabrication are different and using one term instead of the other can cause miscommunication when sourcing the metal.
Different Equipment and Processes
Sheet metal manufacturing is aimed at large-scale production and uses different heavy machinery and tools. Sheet metal fabrication is performed on a smaller scale than sheet metal manufacturing and uses different techniques.
Supply Chain and Sourcing
When searching for “sheet metal suppliers near me,” businesses need to know whether they need raw sheets or fabricated parts.
Manufacturing and fabrication are two different terms. Confusing the two terms can cause procurement issues.
Fortunately, AZ Metals offers fabrication and supply services which makes it easier for our customers to source raw sheets and fabricated parts.
Sheet Metal Fabrication at AZ Metals
Whether you need to source bulk sheet metal or custom sizes, choose AZ Metals, Mesa. We are the industrial supplier and fabricators of metals in Phoenix and Mesa. We offer standard and custom services, no matter the industry or the applications.
Be it metal supply or services such as bending, cutting, punching, notching, welding, or assembly, we offer it all.
Contact us today for details!
