CAMM Metals Blog

Metal fabricators act as one of the pillars that support the nation’s infrastructure and economy. Countless aspects of our day-to-day life depends on some form of product fabricated from metal, whether its household appliances or critical medical technology. In short, fabricated metal products are invaluable in society, if they've been properly finished by a trained professional.

Why is Metal Finishing Important for the Finished Product?

Taken on its own, raw metal has some distinct problems; without proper finishing, exposed metals can eventually corrode and tarnish. Depending on the intended use, unfinished metal-fabricated parts can be eroded by salts, weakened by ultraviolet light or rusted by rain. However, metal fabricators realized many years ago that properly finishing components is essential for enhancing durability and the product’s life span.

Laser cut parts are valuable for many industries, and the pieces are critical aspects of machinery in sectors ranging from aerospace  to the medical field. However, many companies are simply unaware that their laser cutting costs, despite the production, could be dramatically reduced by simple alternate choices and improved communication with their laser cutting partner.

Laser cutting is a uniquemethod of piercing material with a laser beam to melt or destroy the material in a precise line, resulting in a clean finish. Many companies, small businesses, and industrial organizations opt for laser cutting because it produces barely perceptible edge effects from the cutting, unlike many other methods.

CO2 Vs. Fiber Laser Cutting

The modern metal fabrication process is composed of a variety of techniques that promise quality returns; laser cutting stands out as one of the most interesting, as it’s adaptable, precise, and efficient, which make it quite compelling whether you are seeking help on a simple or complex fabrication project.

In today’s market, it’s critical for job shops to be proactive about standing out, not only to their clients but to their potential employees as well. The modern day job shop faces the unique challenge of appealing to a smaller pool of highly-skilled workers in order to succeed and pass that success off to customers. The methods with which a given job shop operates can make a massive difference when it comes to hiring viable candidates, cutting costs and improving productivity. This is where the lean manufacturing philosophy becomes incredibly valuable. Essentially, lean manufacturing is about eliminating waste and streamlining processes. If you’re interested in learning more, check out this blog post.

Not only can lean philosophy turn a business into a well-oiled machine, but it ensures that each aspect of the operation is treated with equal importance. In the end, this can ensure that a business is highly efficient, which helps the business to pass on the benefits to clients.

There’s no shortage of tools and systems within the lean manufacturing philosophy that businesses use to ensure they’re following the method’s most important principles. One of these tools is “5S.”

Continue reading to learn how this helpful system can benefit both metal fabrication job shops and their customers.

What Does Lean Manufacturing Entail?

At its most basic, lean manufacturing focuses on the elimination of waste; not just physical waste, as in an excess of materials, but also waste that occurs as the result of overburdening, or via uneven workloads.  It systemically streamlines the entire manufacturing system to make it as efficient as possible, ultimately leading to greater efficiency, lower costs and faster production times.  In fact, research has shown that when lean principles are put into place, it can produce significant results, including reduced manufacturing lead times and floor space requirements, and increased first-pass yields, throughput and productivity.

The short answer is iron! Ferrous metals contain iron, while non-ferrous metals do not contain iron. However, the difference in the composition of these types of metals means that each has unique qualities and uses. So let's learn more about the differences between ferrous and non-ferrous metals.

Ferrous Metals

As we mentioned earlier, ferrous metals are types of metals that contain iron. Since ferrous metals are known for their strength and durability, they are often used in both architectural and industrial fabrication. Due to the iron they contain, ferrous metals are also magnetic. Some examples of ferrous metals include:

The development of fiber optic technology has brought about several technological advancements, the most notable of which is the ability to transfer information faster and in larger quantities than ever before. Instead of relying on phone lines or copper wiring, fiber optic technology allows users to send data through diodes using beams of light. This technology has also revolutionized laser cutting technology, as fiber optic cabling can produce a light beam 200% more effective than CO2 lasers. Besides increased power, fiber laser cutting boasts a variety of advantages over traditional cutting methods. Here are some of the top advantages of fiber laser cutting.

Are metal welding costs draining your fabrication project’s budget? It’s possible that your fabrication partner isn’t doing everything possible to optimize their welding processes and find ways to minimize your expenses. It’s a difficult balancing act. After all, the end product’s structure and safety is dependent on the strength of the welds. Any welding defects will result in additional costs for your business. Check in with your metal fabrication partner to find out if they offer any of the following welding solutions to drive down your project costs (without sacrificing quality).

When you're embarking on your next metal fabrication project, it's important to consider which type of steel you will use. Selecting the appropriate type of steel for a metal fabrication project is a critical and less-mentioned decision.

Before you even begin to contemplate between which individual grade of steel you'll choose, you first have to determine what type of steel to use. Typically, the choice is between carbon steel or stainless steel.

Continue reading to learn the primary differences between carbon and stainless steel.