Both metal fabrication and welding are processes used to join metal together in order to create useful objects, but the two processes are not the same. 

Metal fabrication and welding require different tools and have different applications that make them unique in terms of purpose and design. The differences between metal fabrication and welding will be explored in this article, so read on to learn more about how each process works.

Overview of metal fabrication

Metal fabrication is the process of building metal structures by cutting, bending, and assembling. It can be used to create everything from buildings to bridges to cars. 

Welding is just one type of fabrication, and it refers to joining two pieces of metal together using heat and pressure. There are many different types of welding, but all of them involve melting the metal so that it can fuse together.

While fabricating metal involves many different techniques, all of them require a similar amount of skilled labour. Different techniques can have varied results, however, metal fabrication is an excellent option for creating large-scale structures that require welding to join pieces together.

In some cases, a piece of metal is fabricated, and then it’s later welded into place by another company. Fabricators build pieces in a shop environment and then transport them to site for welding. This allows manufacturers to focus on fabricating finished parts in more comfortable conditions before having them moved for installation on a larger structure or object at a later date.

Overview of welding

Welding is a process of joining two pieces of metal together by melting them and using a filler material to create a strong bond. The most common type of welding is arc welding, which uses an electric arc to create heat and melt the metal. 

There is also another welding process call the MIG, or metal inert gas welding. In MIG welding, a wire made of a combination of metal and inert gases—typically aluminium with about 10% argon—is fed through an electrically-powered gun that heats it to a white-hot point when it’s in contact with your work piece. 

As the wire passes through your workpiece, you use a hand-held device to guide it along and strike an arc at points along its length; as soon as you do so, molten metal from your weld puddle is drawn up through small holes on each side of your wire, forming a strong joint without ever actually touching any outside surfaces.

Because MIG wire doesn’t melt until it reaches a high temperature, it can be fed through and around even small parts without difficulty. That makes it an excellent choice for industrial applications where part sizes are constantly changing. 

A unique feature of MIG welding is that it requires no filler rod or gas shielding to shield welders from heat, fumes or dangerous ultraviolet light; as a result, welders never need to use respirators or protective gear when working with MIG equipment, making MIG ideal for commercial situations like manufacturing plants and repair shops.

Differences between metal fabrication and welding

Metal fabrication involves putting together pieces of metal to create a new product, while welding involves fusing two pieces of metal into one. 

The processes and materials used in each job can differ greatly, though there is some overlap between them at times. You’ll likely encounter both processes at some point in your career as a fabricator or welder, but it’s important to understand their differences if you want to be successful in either field.

If you want to become a metal fabricator, you need to be skilled in many areas. Unlike welding, where you only need a basic knowledge of metals and welding techniques, fabricators must also have training in precision work, measurement and testing methods, computer-assisted design (CAD) software and machinery operation, as well as know how to program and run specific fabrication machines.

Conclusion

As we coul see above, the main difference between metal fabrication and welding is that fabrication is the process of building something from scratch, while welding is the process of joining two pieces of metal together. Welding can be a part of the fabrication process but the opposite is not feasible.

With that, we’ll bring this post to a close. Hope you had a good read.