Some of the main advantages of using metals in your next project include ease of fabrication, precision, consistency and reliability. The proper choice of metal is vital to achieving these goals, but how do you know which metal is appropriate for your product? This piece discusses some key considerations when choosing materials for metal fabrication.

Strength

The strength of a metal determines the performance of the product you fabricate. For example, you can pick a metal with high tensile strength for products that endure pulling forces. Similarly, the metal should perform excellently despite the bending and compressive forces. Hence, the strength of the metal should always be your number one priority. 

A metal that is strong enough for your application helps you prevent accidents caused by fractures and bends. The strength also determines the frequency of repairs and severity of unexpected damage. Hence, consider the load, impacts and other forces that affect the metal. In the end, metal fabrications should use materials whose strength exceeds any stress the product encounters. 

Chemical Properties

What kind of environment will you use the metallic product in? Metals interact with different items in nature that impact their rate of wear and performance. For example, the moist environment around water bodies such as lakes and oceans causes rust. Metals chosen for applications in such areas must resist the corrosive effects of the environment. 

However, what happens when you do not select suitable metals? Corrosion prevention is a costly issue for most businesses. For example, you must constantly paint your metallic product to prevent rust. In other cases, the metals require coats of plastic or sacrificial rust prevention to shield them from corrosion. Hence, select metals and alloys that do not corrode easily, regardless of the environment.

Cost

One of the main advantages of metal fabrication is the reduction of maintenance costs. Metals create strong joints and shield other delicate materials in a fabricated item. However, metals are more expensive than materials such as wood or plastics. Therefore, make all attempts to reduce the item's overall cost by selecting a suitable metal. 

For example, silver, gold and platinum are more expensive than steel or aluminium, yet the environment rarely affects their performance. However, tin coating in steel materials or processes such as galvanising can help achieve a similar effect. Hence, always seek alternative methods of minimising the cost of your fabricated item. 

Some critical factors to consider when picking a material for metal fabrications include strength, chemical properties and cost. Contact a manufacturer to learn more about metal fabrication.