Fabricators use many tools in the sheet metal fabrication industry. There are complex processes, and the fabricator must be skilled and experienced in the craft, including understanding the common tools used in sheet metal fabrication. Let’s take a look.
Throatless Shear
The throatless shear is a cutting tool that allows the user to make curved, irregular, and straight cuts in sheet metal with ease and accuracy. It’s an essential tool in most fabrication shops.
Deburring and Bevelling Tools
Lightweight yet powerful, bevelling and deburring equipment includes sanders, grinders, bevel mills, and more. You’ll reach high-quality results each use with their robust motors and vibration-free operation.
Angle Grinders
You will use angle grinders for grinding, polishing, and cutting. Fabricators use this power tool on different types of metal. There are many sizes available, and you’ll find the correct one for your task.
An angle grinder is also known as a disc grinder or side grinder.
Metal Cutting Saws
You’ll find a variety of saws under this category. There are chop saws, circular saws, band saws, and cold saws. Band saws are the more effective and safe saw to use, and there are two different types of bandsaws: horizontal and vertical.
Sheet Metal Rolling Equipment
Bend and roll sheet metal with ease with both manual and powered sheet metal rolling equipment. These tools are crucial for sheet metal fabrication, from ring rollers to slip rollers.
Drill Bits
When working in the sheet metal fabrication industry, using a standard-length drill bit and a shorter machine screw drill bit is common. Many other beneficial drill bits are available and used, but those two are the standard.
Wire Cutters
Wire cutters are a simple tool used to finish fabrication projects by trimming the frayed edges.
Cleco Fasteners
These fasteners will temporarily hold sheets of the proper material still and in place. You can also use Cleco fasteners to keep frames and stiffeners together before they permanently join.
It’s necessary to know and understand the common tools used in sheet metal fabrication when working in the industry. Typically, it’s the fabricator’s discretion to choose which tools are best suited for the project.
