Fabricated metal products are essential in your day-to-day life. In 2013, $345.1 billion worth of metal fabricated products were shipped to and from the U.S. It involved the transformation of metal sheets into parts or end products.
A custom sheet fabrication project can be optimized so that the end product that you get meets your design and cost specifications. These are ways that you can optimize the design of your custom metal fabrication project.
Pick a Fabricator with In-house Engineering Services
The fabricator that you choose can play a significant role in the cost of your fabricating project. Pick one that offers in-house engineering and designing services. They have specialized engineers who can make recommendations on the material choices, design changes, and in-line processing tips that you were probably unaware of. Companies like abrasive blasting media can also recommend the right products to give you the final results that you really want.
They can also provide you tools at cost amortization. It allows you to disperse the costs over a few months, and you can use the tools for future projects. It’s cheaper than renting tools.
Get Your Fabricator Involved From the Beginning
Fabricators can provide valuable feedback on the type of materials to use, and let you know if your design is practical or not. So, it makes sense to involve them from the beginning. This will save you time and money on redoing things.
Fabrication Techniques
It is essential to know which fabrication technique will yield the most units out of the same amount of materials. Roll forming can reduce drop-off and scrap via coil-fed processing. It is better when compared to turret punching, press braking, and stamping when it comes to custom sheet fabrication. Similarly, aluminum extrusions are high-yielding. So, discuss the technique with your fabricator.
Material Selection
The type of material you use can have a significant impact on the cost and design integrity of your project. Specific fabrication techniques work best with a particular kind of material. For example, aluminum and steel sheets are a popular choice of material due to their durable and corrosive-resistant qualities. Therefore, material selection is critical to optimize the design of your custom metal fabrication project.
Part Design
The part’s design plays a vital role in the optimization of your fabrication project. By reducing the number of bends, you can simplify the product profile and still meet the product specifications. You can use roll forming to achieve complex linear shapes and perform secondary operations, like hole piercing and punching, multiple bends, and numerous hits, in-line.
Buy Mill-Direct
Buying mill-direct can help get huge savings. It also enables you to negotiate better quality materials. If the quantity that you require is less, then you can have your fabricator do the purchasing for you. Their relationship with mills helps them get the best prices and the best materials. Also, they will ship and store the materials for you as the fabrication is happening at their place.
Every new custom metal fabrication project comes with its own set of challenges in planning, sourcing, and execution. Optimizing your project will require the involvement of your fabricator from the initial stages. They can advise you on material choices, fabrication techniques, and even source high-quality materials cheaply. So, let your next custom sheet fabrication project be highly profitable with these tips.
