The ABCs of Metalworking
If you walk our factory floor you might hear some funny sounding words thrown around. (You might hear some other colorful language being used as well). Technical jargon like kerf, slag, and mitering might sound like an entirely different language to you, but it’s music to our ears. But not everybody speaks metalhead!
That’s why we created this handy guide to walk you through some of the most essential metalworking vocab. We also put them in alphabetical order because hey, why not?
A is for Annealing.
Annealing softens metal to relieve internal stresses by heating it to a specific temperature and then cooling it slowly. Annealing is used for metals that have become too hard and brittle after processes like cold working or welding. The slow cooling rate allows the new structure to form uniformly, as cooling too quickly could result in residual stresses and hardening.
B is for Bronze.
One of the earliest innovations in early metalworking was smelting copper and then alloying it with tin to create bronze.
For early civilizations (like Egypt and Mesopotamia) access to bronze tools for farming and warfare gave them an advantage over rival kingdoms. Bronze was both harder and more durable than other choice metals at the time, and was used to craft spears, shields, swords, chariots, and armor.
Today bronze is valued for its conductivity and resistance to corrosion, as well as its visual appeal. It is widely used in electronics, marine applications, and metal art.
C is for Casting.
Casting entails pouring liquid metal into a mold and then letting it solidify (think back to the opening scene of Lord of the Rings and the forging of the One Ring). Casting enables the creation of complex shapes that would be almost unimaginable using only a machine press. Casting is most commonly used for engine parts, complex machinery, and intricate art installations.
D is for Die.
A die is basically a metalworking template for creating complex cross-sectional designs. Just think back to the metal cookie cutters your mom used to create different-shaped goodies, except replace the dough with molten metal and you have a pretty good idea of what we’re talking about.
E is for Edge Quality
Edge quality is an important consideration for any metalworking project. A good edge is smooth and free from burrs, heat warping, or inconsistencies in hardness.
F is for Fabrication
Fabrication describes the entire material construction process and includes forming, welding, assembly, finishing techniques, and more.
G is for Galvanizing
Electro-galvanizing involves immersing metal in a zinc solution and passing an electric current through it, causing zinc ions to deposit on the surface. This process creates a thinner zinc and more uniform when compared to the thicker layer that results from hot-dipping metal in molten zinc.
H is for Hot-Dipping.
Hot-dipping involves submerging metal in molten zinc. When cooled, the result is a thick, durable zinc layer that protects the metal from corrosion.
I is for Iron.
Around 1200 BC, metalworkers found a way to smelt iron into carbon steel, which was both harder and lighter than bronze. Smelting iron had previously been impossible since it required metalworkers to first heat the iron to over 2,280 °F! But the creation of better furnaces and specialized processes for the removal of impurities enabled Iron Age smiths to craft stronger, lighter tools using steel instead of bronze.
Today, steel is used for a variety of applications, like reinforcing buildings and creating large scale art installations — like these towers that our metal workers custom built for a community in Rancho Cucamonga!
J is for Jet.
A 60,000 psi blast from a Latest Metalworks water jet will pass through a piece of steel like a hot knife through butter.
K is for Kerf.
Kerf describes the width of material removed during the cutting process. When you cut metal, the tools you use remove a certain amount of extra material, creating a gap. This gap is the kerf.
L is for Lasers.
Our fiber lasers cut metal with pinpoint accuracy and boast a tolerance of a mere thousandth of an inch! From flat sheets to rounded tubes, angled metals, and more, fiber lasers cut intricate designs while creating less waste when compared to more traditional techniques, like shearing.
M is for Mitering.
Mitering involves cutting the ends of metal pieces at an angle (typically 45 degrees) so they can be joined together to form a corner.
N is for Nickel.
Nickel is an alloying element used to create stainless steel and other corrosion-resistant metals.
O is for Omax Abrasive Waterjets.
We know what you’re thinking, “didn’t you already use waterjets for J?” Yes, but this isn’t just any waterjet!
Boasting 0.001 inch linear accuracy, the Omax Waterjet is 500 times more powerful than a blast from a fire hose and infinitely more precise. For reference, try to imagine the tip of your pen blasting 3 gallons of water per minute with so much force that your arm would be ripped from its socket, like the kick from some sort of military-grade super soaker.
This sophisticated waterjet features an abrasive grit, or garnet, which helps us get through stronger, thicker material faster without sacrificing edge quality.
P is for Powder Metallurgy.
Powder metallurgy involves compressing metal powders into their desired shape and heating them to bond particles. Its key advantage is that it eliminates the need for subtractive processes, thereby minimizing product waste.
Q is for Quenching.
Quenching increases hardness by rapidly cooling heated metal in water or oil.
R is for Rotary Brush.
Rotary brush machines help with deburring, edge rounding, finishing, laser oxide, and heavy slag removal of different materials.
S is for Slag.
Slag is the byproduct of cutting and welding, slag consists of melted metal, flux, or other impurities that solidify on the surface of the workpiece.
T is for Tubing.
Tube extrusion, or tubing, describes the process of forcing metal through a die to create tubes with a fixed cross-sectional profile. It’s similar to extrusion for solid profiles, but designed explicitly for hollow sections. Tubing is used to create complex shapes with high precision and minimal waste
Latest Metalworks’ tubing center features a triple stack die bender equipped with a mandrel for perfect form throughout the bend. Various dies give us limitless possibilities for forming different-size tubing without scratches and gouges.
U is for US Made.
Yeah maybe this one’s a stretch, but hey, U’s a hard one! (Let’s just see you try to think of a metalworking term that starts with a U.) Plus we’re proud of the fact that Latest Metalworks runs on good ol’ fashioned American ingenuity!
V is for V-Groove.
V-Groove is a type of weld or joint preparation where two pieces of metal meet at a V-shaped angle.
Welding
Welding describes the process of combining metal pieces by melting them at the joint and adding a filler material to create a bond. There are several different techniques for welding metals together — including spot welding, flux welding, and arc welding.
At Latest Metalworks, our designated on-staff inspector verifies that each weld meets strict Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety standards.
Y is for Yield Strength
Yield strength describes the amount of stress a metal can take before it permanently deforms. This number is important because it defines the physical limits of a specific creation, and helps guide our engineers choices of materials.
Z is for Zinc Electroplating
Zinc electroplating involves immersing metal in a zinc solution and passing an electric current through it, causing zinc ions to deposit on the surface. This process creates a much thinner, more uniform zinc layer when compared to thicker layers created from hot-dipping metal in molten zinc. Zinc electroplating helps fight corrosion.
Conclusion
If you still feel out of your depth, not to worry! Our team of veteran metal workers will walk you through everything you need to know to get started on your project. Click here to get started!