Here at Fishel Steel Co., we offer top-notch metal fabrication services to help you get the parts you need to keep your operation running smoothly. We work with a variety of metals, including steel and aluminum, so if you need aluminum fabrication services, don’t hesitate to give us a call. In this article, we’ll go over a few key things you should know about the aluminum fabrication process before you get started.
What is Metal Fabrication?
First, we’ll explain the basics of the fabrication process. Metal fabrication involves cutting, bending, and shaping sheet metal into various machine parts, building hardware, and other forms. Things like tools, hand railings, pipes, car parts, and industrial equipment are all made using these techniques.
How is Aluminum Fabrication Different?
Next, we’ll go over a few properties that make aluminum, and the process of fabricating it, unique. To start with, aluminum is much lighter than steel, at just one-third the weight, and although it is also weaker than steel, its strength-to-weight ratio is often higher. While these qualities make it easier to work with in many respects, aluminum also has properties that make it tricky to fabricate. Specifically, aluminum is more difficult to weld due to its lower melting point and higher thermal conductivity.
On top of that, aluminum oxide (aluminum’s “rust”) has a much higher melting point than the base metal and will inhibit welding if it is present. Fortunately, our team has extensive experience in working with aluminum, and we know exactly how to prepare it in order to produce the best results. Give us a call today to learn more.