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2 Issues That Could Affect Custom Metal Fabrication

January 21, 2022

To create the best quality parts and prototypes, businesses turn towards custom metal fabrication. The process is extensive, tailormade to your requirements and provides accurate results. To achieve this, fabricators use a variety of processes such as cutting, bending, notching, welding and a lot more. However, there are certain structural problems that can occur while carrying out some of these processes. 

 

2 such critical issues plaguing the custom metal fabrication process will be discussed here.

 

 

Spring Back

Spring back is a common issue when sheet metal is processed through bending. Basically, once the metal piece has been bent in a U or V shape, for example, it has a tendency to return to its original shape. Of course, factors like the type of metal, its thickness, and tensile strength all affect the degree of spring back. 

 

Solution

This structural issue can be solved using a simple technique. To counter this problem, the sheet metal should be bent a lot farther than its desired shape, also known as bending angle, so that when spring back does occur, it stops at the angle that the fabricators were actually aiming for, known as the bent angle. Thus, by predetermining the bending and bent angles, the nagging issue of spring back can be resolved. 

 

Warpage

A problem that usually occurs while welding, warpage occurs when two metal parts are welded together and allowed to cool. During cooling, the metal begins to contract, but since they are fused together, it creates this wavy distortion on the surface which is known as warpage. Stainless steel is one of the most susceptible alloys where warping can be witnessed during welding. 

 

Solution

Fabricators often minimize this issue by reducing the heat of the welds. This is achieved by providing heat on an intermittent basis instead of one single stroke. Another solid strategy is using backstep welding, where parts of the metal are only welded at certain points. Alternatively, one can also use clamping to achieve the desired results.

 

Thus, if you are working in the custom metal fabrication industry or a sheet metal fabrication workshop, then it's best to be aware of these problems and their possible solutions. 

 

Demtra Sheet Metal Industries Ltd. is a pioneering metal fabrication company based out of Toronto. Established in 1976, our wide range of services includes plasma cutting, water jet cutting, laser cutting, shearing, welding, engraving and a lot more. To know more about our facility and our services, contact us today.