What Exactly Is Stainless Steel Fabrication?
Did you know that Canada supplies steel to more than 130 nations and territories worldwide?
Stainless steel is 100 percent recyclable and has a recovery rate close to 100 percent. It is also environmentally neutral and inert, and its longevity ensures it meets the needs of sustainable construction.
Stainless steel is also aesthetically pleasing, extremely hygienic, easy to maintain, highly durable, and versatile. Due to these factors, stainless steel is widely used. It is also extensively used in many industries such as power, transportation, construction, scientific studies, health care, food, and logistics.
Are you familiar with stainless steel fabrication but are unclear as to what it is or how it works? Learn more about it below.
What Is Stainless Steel?
First, it is essential to understand what stainless steel is and how it differs from ordinary steel. Stainless steel is an iron alloy, and several additional elements are more corrosion resistant than either.
As opposed to ordinary steel, stainless steel has a glossy surface that is extremely resistant to tarnish. That is why it is referred to as “stainless.”
Raw Materials Used In Stainless Steel Fabrication
Stainless steel is produced by melting raw elements such as iron ore, nickel, silicon, chromium, and molybdenum. Stainless steel metal comprises many fundamental chemical components that form a strong alloy when combined in ratios.
These differing ratios of stainless steel components produce different types of stainless steel. Each unique combination is referred to as a “grade” of stainless steel. These are stainless steel grades, 304 stainless, grade 316 stainless, or grade 420 stainless steel.
The Benefits of Stainless Steel
Stainless steel fabrication may be the ideal solution for your business’s requirements. However, there are many advantages to selecting a trustworthy provider.
- The material is extremely adaptable and recyclable while maintaining unmatched quality and dependability
- Stainless steel is resistant to corrosion and the rust that occurs with other materials.
- It is also resistant to fire and heat, making it an excellent material for demanding structural work
In the food and beverage, pharmaceutical, and chemical sectors, stainless steel components are popular.
As you can see, you should not ignore or underestimate stainless steel’s advantages.
How Do SS Fabricators Make Stainless Steel?
First, the manufacturer must decide what kind of stainless steel they want to make. Then, the grade of stainless steel produced will influence the ratio of stainless steel ingredients. Due to the purity of each ingredient in the combination may vary, these ratios are not always precise.
After gathering the raw materials, the remaining steps in stainless steel production can commence. The following are the fundamental steps:
Melting the Raw Materials
The various stainless steel components are heated to their melting point in a furnace. According to metalsupermarkets.com and other sources, this procedure may take anywhere from 8 to 12 hours. Stainless steel production may go on to the following stage after the metal is molten.
Excess Carbon Removal
To remove excess carbon, the liquid metal is put into a vacuum oxygen or argon oxygen system. Depending on the amount of carbon removed, this technique produces a normal or low-carbon version of the alloy. These being as 304 vs. 304L stainless steel.
Of course, this has an impact on the end product’s hardness and tensile strength.
Stirring and Turning
The liquid steel is then stirred to help disperse and remove particulates from the mixture to fine-tune the quality of the final product. This ensures that the stainless steel is of consistent quality and will satisfy the requirements of end customers.
The Forming Process
As the stainless steel cools, it undergoes a series of shaping procedures, beginning with hot rolling whilst it is still above its crystallization temperature. Hot rolling is a method of forming steel into a rough shape, and it is often used to make billets or metal blooms. Cold rolling stainless steel is used to make metal blooms or billets with exact specifications.
Annealing or Heat Treating
It is possible to anneal stainless steel to alleviate internal stresses and change the mechanical characteristics of the steel (cooled and heated under controlled conditions). However, if the steel is annealed, it may be necessary to descale it to prevent damage to the protective oxide layer.
Laser Metal Cutting
After annealing, stainless steel goes through a range of laser cutting, bending, and shaping operations. Laser metal cutting is the most common cutting used for stainless steel.
This machine not only cuts long tubes into shorter ones but can also make countersink holes, drill, make mitered cuts, create eyelets and inscribe lettering. In fact, the laser cutting machine is an integral part of stainless steel processing.
Bending Stainless Steel
To bend stainless steel, a special tube bending machine is required.
These machines make it possible to speed up production. It also improves the repeatability of the bent parts. It does all this at the same time guaranteeing minimal margins of error even in big production runs.
Shearing Stainless Steel
In the metal manufacturing process of shearing, it is necessary to remove undesirable material from the sheet metal. This requires using a machine or equipment, such as a bench shear, to precisely cut sheet metal. Shearing does not need heat and does not create waste in the form of chips; therefore, it’s a popular option among producers.
Stainless Steel Sheet Rolling
Rolling is a great technology for high-end goods. Metal is rolled by passing it through heavy rollers. This reduces its thickness and gives it a form. Sheet metal steel can also be rolled into forms for conventional structural sections or bespoke profiles.
CNC Milling (Computer Numerical Control Milling)
Stainless steel is a very tough metal. As a result, it requires high-quality machines and tools. In addition, stainless steel has so many variables that the right mix must be selected to guarantee flawless components every time.
CNC & Manual Lathe
Many consider CNC machining (computer numerical control) an essential part of industrial operations. CNC machining is the technique of mass-producing components and materials using computer numerical control. That is, a computer controls the machine that creates the final product.
Surface Grinding
Stainless steel edges cut by shearing, sawing, or abrasive cut-off wheels usually have a roughness. Burrs are common in drilled or sawed holes. When grabbing the cut edge of a component, the burrs may cause painful wounds.
Stainless steel deburring equipment is used to clean and smooth surfaces, including coated and nonwoven abrasives, metal files, wire brushes, and deburring blades.
Welding the Stainless Steel
Before welding, the surface must be cleaned and prepped.
MIG and TIG welding need a shielding gas. Disturbing the shielding gas may cause discoloration in the weld or heat-affected zone.
Abrasive grinding wheels are also essential for preparing the joint’s components. For example, to bevel larger stainless steel parts need cutting or grinding. For flux and stick welded connections, you may need to grind between runs.
Belt Polishing
After levelling and blending the welds, the surface finish will be achieved in stages. These steps make use of belts for alternate sanding and polishing.
Assembling the Final Product
The product is now ready to be assembled. Any fasteners used in assembling a product should be manufactured of the same stainless steel grade as the sheet metal, plate, or bar stock. This reduces the risk of corrosion.
The Miracle of Stainless Steel
Stainless steel is a great option for a variety of tasks. It is sturdy, long-lasting, and attractive. It is more heat-resistant and corrosion-resistant than other metals like copper or aluminum. In addition, it comes in a range of grades, allowing it to be used in various applications.
Are you looking for quality, stainless steel fabrication solutions? Then, contact Ability Fabricators; we work with you, the customer, to achieve your objectives; we view our resources as an extension of your company!
