All You Need to Know about Fabrication vs. Machining

The main difference between machining and fabrication is that machining shapes objects by using machines that cut and shape materials by removing material. Fabrication happens through casting, joining, or forming materials. Casting is a fabrication process in which you fill a mold with another material to duplicate the mold products. Injection molding is another type of casting in which the material is forced into a mold under high pressure.

What Is Fabrication?

Many different techniques can be used in metal fabrication. Some common techniques include bending, punching, cutting, and welding. In some cases, the assembly may also involve using various tools to assemble pieces. Another common technique is powder coating, which uses powdered metals or other substances to coat objects. Machining is another technique that can be used, which involves more than simply drilling holes into things. It encompasses many activities, including turning, milling, grinding, sawing, and routing. In some cases, it can even involve shaping the surface of an item.

What Is Machining?

Machining is a process that involves removing excess material from a piece of stock. This can be done by cutting or grinding away parts of the stock. Cutting involves using a sharp tool to cut into a solid object, while grinding uses abrasive materials to smooth rough surfaces. Turning is similar to lathing but uses a stationary cutter head instead of a rotating one. 

Fabrication involves making parts using various techniques such as welding, cutting, bending, or shaping materials. These processes may be used individually or together to create a new object. For example, a fabricator might use a torch to weld pieces of steel together to form a car door handle. Machining is essentially removing materials, while fabrication involves adding materials.

The 3D Printing Process

3D printing is a process where a three-dimensional object is created using a digital file. This is done by creating a model of the object using a computer and then printing it out using a 3D printer. These printers can be desktop-sized or giant-sized and are now being used to print homes. Sand casting is a process where a mold is made from sand, and then the object is created by pouring molten metal into the mold. 

This process is very similar to injection molding, but there is no pressure applied to the part. It is a less expensive process that is suitable for low production. After the part is created, it may need to be machined to remove the rough edges or to add a metal component. Machining is often done after the fabrication of an object.

Fabrication vs. Manufacturing Production

Fabrication is the process of manufacturing parts from raw materials. Manufacturing is the process of assembling those parts into something useful. Fabrication can be done on a small or large scale, and a wide variety of materials can be used. Machining can also be used to cut out various shapes in materials that cannot be fabricated using injection molding or sand casting due to the material type. 

Certain materials, such as fiberglass, cannot be fabricated like other plastics, such as polyethylene. Polyethylene is a thermoplastic, meaning the material is moldable and can be melted down and shaped. This type of plastic lends itself very well to the molding process.

Fabricating Thermoplastic Materials

The fabrication process of thermoplastics involves heating the material to a liquid form to inject it into a mold. However, materials such as fiberglass contain thermoplastics but also have other substances that are difficult to melt. They cannot be molded using a standard mold but heated and formed over a mold using a thermoform. This is how car body panels made of fiberglass are produced. 

However, if you have sheets of fiberglass that you want to form into circuit boards, you will need a machining process. Machining the sheets will cut them into the desired size. This can be done by a CNC machine set up to cut these sheets in the manufacturing process. CNC machines and fiberglass combinations have very accurate tolerances that make this process perfect for those creating parts that need to keep that tight tolerance for the final product to work.

Machining Thermoset Material

Thermoset materials are like a cake mix because they are composed of multiple ingredients that are combined and heated, forming a final product. The material is then set and cannot be remelted, similar to how a cake cannot be remade once it has been baked. This strengthens thermoset materials as the fibers are combined with the resin and set.

Thermoset fiberglass can be machined, and the heat produced from the machining process will have little to no effect on the fiberglass as it is very heat resistant. This produces parts that are very strong and heat resistant.

Finding a Metal Fabricator

When starting a metal fabrication project, it is important to choose a reliable machine shop with a lot of experience. The parts created need to be inspected by a professional before being used. Furthermore, fabricators must be accurate when estimating the time and materials needed for the project. 

Precision fabrication is a process that uses computer-aided design software to lay out parts and put them together into a finished product. Computer numerical control machines are used to cut the material, and many different types of metals can be used for this purpose. Some metals are more expensive than others, but it might be worth considering purchasing them from a specialty manufacturer if needed.

Conclusion

Fabrication and machining are two very different ways of creating objects. Fabrication is the process of creating objects from a piece of material using a welding or cutting tool. Machining is the process of creating objects from a piece of material using a lathe or a mill. 

Fabrication is used to create objects that are large and have a lot of curves, while machining is used to create objects that are small and have a lot of straight lines. Fabrication is cheaper than machining, but machining is faster and produces a higher-quality product.

Rost Machining and Fabrication is the premier provider of machining, fabrication, and finishing services in the South Bay! As a small, family-run business, we can put you—our customer—first and foremost, delivering personalized service that you won’t find elsewhere. For industries from automotive to aerospace to robotics, whether you need milling, turning, lasing, welding, grinding, or more, we deliver great results! If you need machining and fabrication services in Santa Clara, CA, get in touch with us today! Let us know how we can help!