How to optimise your metal fabrication design

About to start a new metal fabrication project?

First things first, it’s crucial that you find the right metal fabrication company. This can have a significant impact on the success of your project and must be very carefully considered.

But it’s also important to consider your metal fabrication design. Working with a fabricator is a two-way process. Your design needs to be easy to translate into the desired product, and to ensure the project runs as smoothly as possible, there are certain things you – as the client – can do to help.

 

1. Get the fabricator involved from an early stage

Perhaps you have previous experience with this type of project? Perhaps you don’t? Either way, it makes sense to involve your metal fabricator from the very start. After all, they’re the experts.

Explain exactly what it is you would like to achieve and share your initial design ideas. If they think it’s feasible, brilliant – production can be arranged. But if not, they’ll let you know their concerns, and offer suggestions on how to optimise and improve the design.

Your fabricator can also advise on materials. Metals vary greatly in terms of their properties and this can have a huge impact on the practicality of your end-product. But, by applying their expertise in this area, your fabrication partner can recommend the most appropriate metal for the design.

 

2. Provide in-depth information

When requesting a quote, provide the metal fabrication company with as many details as possible.

Ideally, you should aim to include:

• initial design and engineering drawings
• technical specifications
• the overall plan and product profile
• your site address
• the main point of contact at your company
• the project deadline

The more information you can provide, the more accurate the quote will be – and the more likely it is that your design will be interpreted correctly. But try to keep things as relevant as you can. Any extraneous or unnecessary details will only confuse matters and potentially delay the process.

 

 

3. Try before you buy

Sometimes, even the most well-thought-out designs do not work in the real world.

That’s why, you should ask your metal fabricator to provide a prototype. Not all companies will do this. But it’s a great way to test out the design – and ensure it translates well from theory to production – before you go full steam ahead and order thousands of identical parts.

If the prototype doesn’t work as expected, or you find there’s room for improvement, minor tweaks and alterations can be made at this stage – potentially saving you lots of time and money.

 

Ready to contact a fabricator with your design?

Be sure to keep us in mind. Here at Special Metals, we have over 50 years’ experience in the fabrication industry – during which time, we have significantly honed our skills and knowledge. We’re always excited by the prospect of a new metal fabrication project. And if you wish to optimise your latest design, our fabricators are happy to offer their advice and expertise.

Check out our recent blog on why you should choose us for metal fabrication. And if you would like to discuss your metal fabrication design in detail, feel free to get in touch at any time. No job is ever too big or too small, too simple or too complex. Just give us a call on +86-755-29936699 or send an email to inquiry.mp@professionalmanufacturing.com and we’ll respond to your enquiry as soon as possible.

 

Posted on: Aug 03, 2020