Casting is a fabrication method where molten metal is placed in a mold and cooled to harden into the required shape. Various crafting tools are used to get the desired design.

Cutting is a fabrication type that involves slicing a metal piece into smaller sections based on the desired size.

Drawing is a process that involves stretching the metal into a thin shape. Drawing is usually performed at room temperature, but heating can be done if there is a need to reduce the force.

Folding is manipulating metal to make it bend at a specific angle. It is mainly done using a brake press that pinches the metal to make creases. It can also be done by a folding machine or by hammering the metal piece manually until it bends.

Forging is where compressive force is used in the shaping of metal. A hammer hits the metal piece until the required shape is formed.

Extrusion is the process that is used to roll a metal sheet into a cylindrical shape to form a wiring or piping structure.

Machining is the removal of unwanted material from a metal piece to shape it. Machining can be done through milling or drilling.

Punching is the creation of holes through a metal piece using a punch press.

Shearing is the process needed to achieve long straight cuts on metal. It involves using two tools; the blade on the upper part and a stationary lower blade that applies pressure on the metal.

Stamping is a process that is similar to punching, except an indentation is placed rather than a hole. It is used to form letters, images, or shapes on a metal sheet. For stamping, crafting tools or a press can be used.

Welding is a process that involves combining two or more metal pieces using heat and pressure.

 Comparison of different materials:

Aluminum is a lightweight element that is versatile and durable. It also has excellent electrical and thermal conductivity. Aluminum performs poorly at temperatures higher than 400° F, but it is excellent at subzero temperature; hence it is ideal in applications that involve low temperatures like aeronautics or refrigeration.

Steel is the alloy obtained from carbon and iron. It includes a mixture of iron ore, limestone, coal, and some other elements. It is the most utilized metal in fabrication and has many applications from machinery, construction materials, and even weaponry.

Stainless steel is an alloy made to have a high corrosion resistant factor. It is composed of aluminum, chromium, carbon steel, and other elements. The metal has a distinctive silver mirror coating. Stainless steel is used in the production of cookware, surgical items, appliances, and cabinet fittings.

Sectional metals

Sectional metals are made of steel and are available in standardized sizes and shapes. They are mainly for construction and engineering purposes. Different types of sectional metals’ chemical and physical properties have already predefined standards. The common types include:

I-beam is a long steel beam with a cross-section that looks like the letter ‘I.’ Both flanges of the beam have a slope on the inner surface that is generally 1:6 making the flanges to be thick inside and thin outside. The H- beam and Wide Flange (WF) beam are varieties of this beam category.

Z- shape is a beam that resembles the letter ‘Z’ and has a half flange that protrudes in the opposite direction.

Hollow structural section (HSS) is a type of steel beam that has a hollow cross-section. They are made in various standard shapes, i.e., circular, square, elliptical, or rectangular cross-sections.

Bar is a type of sectional metal with a rectangular cross-section that is long and flat.

Rod is a piece of sectional metal that is long and is square or circular in nature.

Flat metals

This is metal that has been rolled and pressed to form thin flat pieces. The flat metal thickness is measured in gauges and may vary from several centimeters to lower than a millimeter. Flat metal raw materials can be classified into three categories:

Sheet metal is the most common type, with a thickness of six millimeters in size.

Foil or leaf metal is paper thin, and is in fact the thinnest of the flat metals.

Plate metal is the category of any flat metal that has a thickness above 0.25 inches.

Welding-wire

Welding-wires are composed of easily soldered metals formed into circular rods. They are used in the welding process, where they bind two or more metal pieces together. Welding wires are ignited to render the wire soft and create a heated arc to join metal pieces. They are made in a wide range of sizes and metal materials to allow customization in welding.

Formed and expanded metal

Expanded metal is formed from steel sheets, simultaneously expanded and slit in cold conditions to create diamond-shaped openings of uniform thickness and size. These holes are surrounded by metal strands that are interlinked to expand to the final size. The resulting grate-like sheets are used for outdoor furniture, screen doors, fencing, and other architectural designs. They are also used in industries as guard rails to avoid direct contact with the hot machinery.

Different Types Introduction: