Many times, we tend to misunderstand the difference between welding and metal fabrication by mistake. People often get confused between the two processes. Welding is usually seen as part of metal fabrication, while many a time, people also misjudge welding as being part of metal fabrication too. In short, welding is a series of processes whereas metal fabrication is merely a single method. But this post provides few insights into the fundamental difference between welding and fabricating with metal.
Fabricating involves creating products by making exact copies of something else. In the case of metal fabrication, on the other hand, fabrication refers to forming products out of metal sheets by cutting, grinding, or bending them into form. Metal fabrication is one of the most widely used processes in industries across all domains. This is because the metal fabrication equipment available today is highly accurate and can perform even complicated bending and cutting jobs in a jiffy. Hence, we find many companies and individuals going for metal fabrication so that they can create intricate products.
The major difference between welding and metal fabrication lies in the fact that welding involves mostly one-sided processes whereas fabricating involves multiple-sided processes. For example, in the case of welding, the anvils used to strike the surface are made of steel or iron. The workpiece is then heated so that it melts and fuses with the metal fabrication anvil which is in turn pushed and pulled by the welder at different speeds and forces. The welder needs to be very accurate and disciplined while performing these tasks because mistakes often end up in catastrophic cracks and weld failures.
On the other hand, fabricators combine several metal fabrication processes in one go to make a product. This means that the process is less cumbersome, faster, and more cost-effective because several steps are taken at the same time. Some examples of such processes include cutting, drilling, crimping, and boring. Fabricators have been in this industry for many years now and continue to grow in leaps and bounds. This is why there are many people who prefer to purchase components manufactured by fabricators because the finished products are much better than those that come from welders.
Another major difference between welding and metal fabrication deals with the tools and equipment used for these two processes. Welders require heavy-duty equipment because they need to perform pressing and punching operations on large sheets of sheet metal. The same applies to fabricators too who have to buy a variety of specialty tools and equipment. These include electric forming equipment and press brakes.
Last but not the least, it is important to know that both welding and metalworking are very different and there is no comparison whatsoever. There are numerous differences between these processes. welders can weld sheet metal and fabricators can make custom parts that are stronger, lighter, and more durable. These processes are very different and you cannot say that one is the direct equivalent of the other. So before you go to work welding or forming by hand, make sure you know what you are doing!
This article was written by Tyler Duoos, Tyler is the owner of General Saw Company. General Saw Company takes pride in being a leader in sheet metal fabrication services to Central Florida and its surrounding areas. If you are looking for Metal Fabrication Companies to get the job done right the first time we got you covered!