Sheet metal fabrication and ironwork may sound synonymous or interchangeable terms, but they are not. Each of this requires a unique skill set, materials, and equipment. The similarity is that both of these are metal fabrication techniques and comprise a variety of metals and machinery. Fabricating a metal implies cutting, bending, rolling, deburring, sawing, or more to give it a certain shape and size and use it in assembling a component. So, it is more functional in nature. Ironwork includes making railings, bridges, bank vaults, and other constructions of iron. Hence, this is more structural in nature. Be it sheet metal fabrication or ironwork, right kind of tools and equipment… Read More
Continue ReadingHow Laser Cutting Works?
Laser cutting, which is a thermal based non-contact process, is one of the widely established processes to cut or engrave a wide range of materials such as metals, plastic and wood, among others. The technique is one of the fastest cutting process available that assures a high degree of precision and accuracy without causing deterioration on your material. Laser cutting allows creating complex geometrical shapes, small holes, and beveled parts without generating heat compared to other thermal cutting processes. This non-contact process is highly accurate, yields excellent cut quality, with a reduced chance of material warpage. Although a widely popular technique, most of us are not aware of the working… Read More
Continue Reading4 Beneficial Features of Woodward Fab’s Box and Pan Brakes
What Is a Box and Pan Brake and Its Use? A box and pan brake, also known as a finger brake, is a tool used in sheet metal fabrication to bend sheets of hard metals such as aluminum, stainless steel, and high-tensile alloys into shapes like boxes, pans, and similar parts. It is popular in the metalworking industry because it makes complex bending tasks much easier. However, even though they are widely used, there is a common misconception that box and pan brakes are difficult to operate, especially for beginners. In reality, this isn’t true. Manufacturers like us design this equipment to be user-friendly and easy to maintain. In this… Read More
Continue ReadingComparison between Nibblers and Shear Tools
Metalworking is one of the most complex industries due to the severity of the production processes involved. Those who regularly work with heavy gauge metal sheets perform several processes in order to get the metal to the required specifications for further forming. Amongst such several operations, cutting of sheet metal plays a significant role. There are several tools available for sheet metal cutting that help you do the job at a faster rate, whilst allowing you to produce clean cuts by reducing the workpiece damage and the risk of injury. This post discusses the most commonly used sheet metal cutting tools, i.e., nibblers and shears. Read on to know a… Read More
Continue Reading5 Significant Welding Tools You Need for an Accurate and Safe Welding
Welding is the most common and the critical operations employed in every sheet metal fabrication shop to join metal pieces together as per the specifications. Unlike the past, several tools available simplify the welding process and gives you the expected results quickly. In the last post, we had a discussion on a few such welder tools that are commonly used in the welding sector. This post discusses another 5 useful welding tools. 5 Popular Tools Used in Welding Invest in the right welding tools and equipment that give you faster results. Following are the list of basic welding tools that help augment the quality of your welding processes. MIG Welder… Read More
Continue ReadingTop 4 Sheet Metal Industry Trends
The sheet metal fabrication is one of the fastest growing industries in the world. Although considered traditional in its approach, still it has experienced the influx of emerging technologies. Earlier manual tools were mainly used for sheet metal fabrication processes such as cutting, machining, welding, as well as the assembly of the final product. However, today many of these tools are replaced by advanced and effortless versions. The growth of the sheet metal fabrication industry is fueled by two factors – improved supply chain practices, and technology advancements. After reading all these, you might be intrigued to know about the major trends in the sheet metal industry. Isn’t it? If… Read More
Continue ReadingHow to Use Slip Rollers
Sheet metal of varying sizes, shapes, and specifications is used to produce parts/components for applications across several industrial sectors. However, in order to form sheet metal to the required specifications, the support of several equipment and tools is inevitable. One such tool that is a must-have in all the sheet metal fabrication shops is a slip roller. What are these tools? These compact and user-friendly machines are designed to form sheet metal into curved panels or cylinders. They are built to withstand years of rolling at maximum capacity. In this post, we will discuss the working of slip rollers along with listing a few features. How does a Slip Roller… Read More
Continue ReadingPotential Hazards Associated with Sheet Metal Bending Brakes
A press brake is one of the popular machines used for sheet metal bending including bottom bending and air bending. A work-piece is clamped between a punch and a die to create a pre-determined bend. These sheet metal brakes are well-known for their versatility, ease-of-use, minimal maintenance, durability, and dependability. However, the tool must be operated carefully, as negligence leads to unforeseen accidents and injuries to people involved. The post, thus aims to familiarize you with some of the potential hazards associated with press brakes and solutions to protect yourself from those dangers. 6 Common Hazards Caused by Press Bakes The following are the commonly heard hazards caused when operating… Read More
Continue ReadingWorking with Sheet Metal? Know These Safety Guidelines
Sheet metal is a thin sheet of metal, which is widely used in a wide range of metalworking applications. Its property to bend, and being formed into a variety of shapes is one of the reasons for its increasing popularity in many industries. To bend, or cut a sheet metal requires using different machines or equipment, and so the US Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) advises to take into account many safety and health issues. What are the different safety considerations that one must follow, while working with sheet metals? Are you interested to know? Well, the following post is aimed at giving out some safety tips for those… Read More
Continue ReadingHow to use Woodward Fab Shrinker/Stretcher Metal Forming Tool?
Shrinker/stretcher, which consists of two dies (one for stretching material, while the other to shrink material) is designed to form desired curves on a piece of metal. This wonderful metal forming tool provides the convenience of having both Shrinker and Stretcher set up in the same tool. Available in several models, the tools can be used to form 18 gauge mild steel or up to 16 gauge aluminum. This metalworking tool is provided by several manufacturers and in diverse specifications. However, the shrinker/stretcher tool from Woodward Fab have gained extreme popularity in the recent years. Do you want to know how they work? What are the different types of shrinker/stretcher… Read More
Continue ReadingWoodward Fab’s Step-by-step Guide to Assembling the Manual Pipe & Tube Bending Machine
In manufacturing or metalworking industries, pipe and tube bender equipment are required to achieve precise wrinkle-free bends. You can set the required angle of bending by a particular setting in this equipment. In order to use this equipment efficiently, you need to ensure that proper installation and assembly of the equipment is done. Woodward Fab is one of the leading and experienced manufacturers of various metalworking tools and equipment. One such equipment from the company is the WFB2 manual tube and pipe bending equipment. This post will help you understand step-by-step how to assemble this equipment. We have also embedded a video below for your reference, and to help you… Read More
Continue ReadingAchieve Astounding Results with Woodward Fab Metal Fabrication Equipment
Woodward Fab is the trusted source for a wide range of metal fabrication equipment that are known for their quality craftsmanship and optimum performance. With the high-quality equipment, you can execute several simple to complex metal fabrication tasks easily and safely. Their range of sheet metal fabrication tools is made to perform to the highest standards even in the harsh industrial environments. Product Offerings of Woodward Fab Under the category of metal fabrication equipment, Woodward Fab manufacturers and sells the following equipment: English Wheels: Also known as wheeling machine, this metal fabrication tool allows producing different types of curves in sheet metal. This simple and easy-to-use machine helps shape metals… Read More
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