Fabrication processes and services vary widely across the board. Steel fabrication Houston companies may specialize in certain stages, parts, or aspects of the metal fabrication process, which generally involves the handling, shaping, forming, and joining of raw stock metal for use in assembly processes for different kinds of industry operations. Shale Pumps specializes in metal fabrication in Houston for use in drilling rig assemblies and operations. The company lends its expertise in precision sheet metal fabrication that ensures resilience and quality, which are critical to oil and exploration sector applications.
Seeking out steel fabrication Houston companies, look for one that covers the stages of the fabrication process critical to your application, among which, include:
- Cutting – The cutting stage of metal fabrication in Houston involves the use of various types of simple to complex machines, ranging from steel saws to plasma torches, lasers, and water jets, prices of which depend on the quality of steel and the cutting method used.
- Folding – Some assembly parts may require bending or folding. This is done through various methods, the most common of which is brake pressing. A press brake uses a set of dies, which pinches the metal to produce a crease.
- Machining – Steel fabrication factories in Houston that offer machining services maintain a variety of cutting machines and tools that control the precise cutting of metal.
- Punching – Punching involves a punch and die action to make holes on metal sheets. These holes are usually added for the installation of different kinds of fasteners.
- Shearing – Sheet metal shearing involves making long cuts on the piece of metal, much like the cutting action of chop-handle paper cutters.
- Stamping – Some metal fabrication companies in Houston also offer stamping services, which closely resemble punching, except the material remains intact and not cut; only raised or embossed.
- Welding – Welding services are for joining pieces of metal together. Different types and techniques also exist for use in various applications.