Have you been looking for a custom metal fabricator in the Fox Valley? P&D Metal Works in Neenah, WI is a premier option for individuals, businesses, and municipalities in the area. With that being said — there are things to know before you place your order for a custom metal fabrication project. We are here to help with this list of 5 Things To Know Before Ordering a Custom Metal Fabrication Project.
What You Need to Know Before Ordering Custom Metal Fabrication
When you opt for end-to-end custom metal fabrication, there are a few things you need to know before you start the process. These things can help ensure that the process from start to finish runs smoothly, both for you and the metal fabricator that you decide to work with. Armed with this information, you can ensure that your custom metal fabrication project turns out exactly the way you want it to.
1. Provide Clean Design Files
Are you planning on providing your own design blueprints? It is important that you provide your metal fabricator with a clean CAD design. Many metal fabricators use .DXF or .STEP design files for their software — but it is important to ask the fabricator if they have a preferred file format. Bad design files may mean the fabricator needs to redraw the design in CAD and you may be charged an additional design fee.
2. Design for Manufacturability (DFM)
The complexity of your design can have a major impact on your costs, making it important for you to Design for Manufacturability (DFM). This concept involves creating designs that can be easily manufactured at lower costs, rather than having beautiful and complex designs that can be impossible or expensive to fabricate. You can ask most fabricators for a DFM review prior to starting your manufacturing process to reduce production time by as much as 30%.
3. Understand Material Options and Lead Times
The supply chain has a tremendous impact on the costs and lead times for custom metal fabrication projects, making it important for you to know what materials you want to use for your project and the lead times that go with them. When your project allows for it, you want to choose materials that are in stock that can reduce production times by as much as a week. If you want to use materials that are not in stock, it is important to ask about potential lead times.
4. Know the Limits of Metal Fabrication Processes
Is laser cutting a part of your design? What other processes does your design require? When you start the custom metal fabrication process, it is important that you know and understand the limits and tolerances of each part of the process in order to provide a precise design. Modern lasers have a standard 0.1 mm tolerance — but when you overspecify tighter tolerances, it can result in higher costs.
5. Factor Finishing Into Your Timeline
When most people plan a metal fabrication project, the focus is on the physical production of the project and finishing gets forgotten. It is important to factor finishing into your timeline when planning a project and understand that in most cases, finishing will add 3-5 business days to your lead time. Factor that time into your timeline and enjoy a better experience from start to finish.
READ MORE: How To Calculate the Costs of a Custom Metal Fabrication Project?
When you approach the custom metal fabrication process, there are a few things that you need to know going in, and P&D Metal Works can help. We have created this list of 5 Things To Know Before Ordering a Custom Metal Fabrication Project to help you plan ahead for your metal fabrication project.
Contact P&D Metal Works today to start your custom metal fabrication project!
