Custom Fabrication Glossary - (frequently used terms)

A

1. Acrylic: A lightweight, shatter-resistant plastic often used for displays, signage, and furniture.

2. Adhesive Bonding: A technique using glue or adhesive to join materials.

3. Alloy: A mixture of metals or a metal combined with other elements for specific properties.

4. Anodizing: A process to increase corrosion resistance and surface hardness, commonly used on aluminum.

5. Architectural Fabrication: Creating custom structures or elements for architectural use.

B
6. Bead Blasting: A surface finishing process that smooths or textures a material using small beads.
7. Bending: Shaping material into angles or curves using force or heat.
8. Blueprint: A detailed technical drawing of a design.
9. Brass: An alloy of copper and zinc, known for its durability and decorative appearance.
10. Brushed Finish: A surface treatment that creates fine, parallel lines for texture and aesthetics.
C
11. CAD (Computer-Aided Design): Software used to create precise design models and plans.
12. Carbon Steel: A strong, durable metal used for structural and industrial applications.
13. Casting: Pouring molten material into a mold to create a shape.
14. CNC (Computer Numerical Control): Automated control of machining tools using a computer.
15. Composite Materials: Materials made from two or more constituents to enhance properties.
D
16. Deburring: Removing sharp edges or imperfections from a fabricated piece.
17. Die Casting: A manufacturing process that forces molten metal into a mold.
18. Draft Angle: The angle applied to a design to make it easier to remove from molds.
19. Drilling: Creating circular holes in materials using a rotary tool.
20. Ductility: The ability of a material to stretch without breaking.
E
21. Edge Finishing: Smoothing or shaping the edges of a material.
22. Electroplating: Coating a material's surface with a thin layer of metal using an electric current.
23. Engraving: Cutting designs or text into a material’s surface.
24. Epoxy: A strong adhesive or coating material used in bonding and finishes.
25. Extrusion: A process to shape material by forcing it through a die.
F
26. Fabrication: The process of creating a product by cutting, shaping, or assembling materials.
27. Fillet Weld: A triangular weld used to join two surfaces at an angle.
28. Flame Cutting: A cutting method that uses an oxygen-fueled flame.
29. Forming: Shaping material through bending, pressing, or other methods.
30. Friction Welding: A welding process where heat is generated by friction between two surfaces.
G
31. Galvanizing: Coating steel or iron with zinc to prevent rusting.
32. Gauge: The thickness of a material, often metal or wire.
33. Grinding: Smoothing material surfaces using an abrasive wheel.
34. Gusset: A reinforcing plate used to strengthen joints.
35. Gypsum: A mineral used in construction and casting.
H
36. Hardening: A heat treatment process to increase the hardness of a material.
37. Heat Transfer: The process of transferring heat from one material to another.
38. Hydroforming: Shaping material using a high-pressure fluid.
39. HVAC Fabrication: Custom components for heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems.
40. Hemming: Folding over the edge of material to increase strength or improve safety.
I
41. Injection Molding: A process of shaping plastic by injecting molten material into a mold.
42. Inlay: A decorative technique where material is embedded into another surface.
43. ISO Standards: International standards for quality and safety in manufacturing.
44. Insulation: Material used to reduce heat transfer or sound transmission.
45. Industrial Coating: A protective or decorative layer applied to materials.
J
46. Jig: A custom-made tool to ensure precise fabrication.
47. Joining: Combining two or more materials through welding, soldering, or adhesives.
48. Junction: The point where two materials meet or connect.
49. Jet Cutting: Using a high-pressure water or abrasive jet to cut materials.
50. Joint Efficiency: The strength of a joint compared to the base material.
K
51. Kerf: The width of material removed by a cutting process.
52. Kiln: A furnace used for drying or hardening materials.
53. Knurling: A textured pattern on material surfaces for grip or aesthetics.
54. K-Factor: A calculation used to determine material stretch during bending.
55. Keyway: A slot cut into a shaft or hub for alignment.
L
56. Laminating: Bonding layers of material together for strength or aesthetics.
57. Laser Cutting: Using a laser to precisely cut materials.
58. Lathe: A machine tool for shaping material by rotating it against a cutting tool.
59. Load Capacity: The maximum weight a structure or component can support.
60. Louver: Slats or panels that allow airflow while blocking light or debris.

M
61. Machining: The process of removing material to shape a component using tools like lathes or mills.
62. Mandrel: A tool inserted into a workpiece to maintain its shape during fabrication.
63. Material Strength: The maximum stress a material can withstand before failure.
64. MIG Welding (Metal Inert Gas): A welding process using a wire electrode and shielding gas.
65. Mill Finish: The surface condition of metal as it comes from the mill, without additional finishing.
66. Miter Joint: A joint where two pieces meet at an angle, typically 45 degrees.
67. Mold: A hollow form used to shape materials.
68. Multi-Axis CNC: A CNC machine capable of moving in multiple directions to create complex shapes.
69. Mosaic: A decorative design made by assembling small pieces of material.
70. Metal Fabrication: The process of creating metal structures or components.

N
71. Nest: Optimizing the layout of parts to minimize material waste during cutting.
72. Nickel Plating: A process to coat a material with nickel for corrosion resistance and aesthetics.
73. Notching: Cutting a notch or groove in a material for assembly or design.
74. Non-Destructive Testing (NDT): Testing methods that evaluate materials without causing damage.
75. Nominal Size: The approximate or named size of a material, not its exact measurements.

O
76. Offset: The distance by which a component or part is intentionally displaced.
77. Open Die Forging: A process where metal is shaped between flat or contoured dies.
78. Oxidation: The chemical reaction of a material with oxygen, often causing rust or patina.
79. Overhang: A part of a structure that extends beyond its support.
80. Overlay: A layer of material applied over another for strength or appearance.

P
81. Passivation: A treatment to remove contaminants and improve corrosion resistance on metal surfaces.
82. Patina: A surface finish or discoloration often used for aesthetic purposes on metals.
83. Plasma Cutting: Using a plasma torch to cut conductive materials.
84. Precision Fabrication: High-accuracy fabrication for detailed and complex designs.
85. Press Brake: A machine used for bending sheet metal.
86. Prototyping: Creating a sample or model to test a design concept.
87. Punching: Cutting or shaping material using a punch and die.
88. Powder Coating: A durable, powder-based paint applied electrostatically and cured with heat.
89. Profile Cutting: Cutting materials into specific shapes or outlines.
90. PVD (Physical Vapor Deposition): A coating process that applies a thin, durable layer to surfaces.

Q
91. Quality Assurance (QA): Ensuring a product meets specified quality standards.
92. Quenching: Rapid cooling of heated metal to achieve desired mechanical properties.
93. Quarter Round: A convex molding often used in trim or decorative designs.
94. Quick Connect: A feature that allows for fast and easy assembly or disassembly.
95. Quill: A spindle or shaft used in machining tools.

R
96. Raw Material: Unprocessed material used for fabrication.
97. Reaming: Enlarging or smoothing an existing hole for precision.
98. Reinforcement: Adding strength or stability to a structure or material.
99. Rendering: A visual representation of a design, often 3D.
100. Rivet: A fastener used to join materials by deforming one end.

S
101. Sandblasting: Using abrasive particles to clean or texture a surface.
102. Sawing: Cutting material with a saw.
103. Scaling: Removing oxide layers or adjusting sizes for proportion.
104. Seam Welding: Welding along a continuous seam for a strong joint.
105. Sheet Metal: Thin, flat metal pieces used in fabrication.
106. Shearing: Cutting materials using a straight blade.
107. Shot Peening: A process to strengthen metal surfaces by impacting them with small balls.
108. Shrinkage: Reduction in size, often due to cooling or drying.
109. Spot Welding: A welding method where heat is applied to a small area.
110. Stainless Steel: A corrosion-resistant steel alloy with chromium.

T
111. TIG Welding (Tungsten Inert Gas): A precise welding process using a tungsten electrode.
112. Tolerances: Acceptable limits of variation in dimensions.
113. Tooling: Custom tools designed for specific fabrication processes.
114. Tube Bending: Shaping tubes into specific angles or curves.
115. Turnkey Solution: A ready-to-use product or system delivered to the client.

U
116. Ultrasonic Testing: A non-destructive testing method using high-frequency sound waves.
117. Urethane: A durable material used for coatings, molds, and seals.
118. UV Printing: Printing directly on surfaces using ultraviolet light to cure the ink.
119. Uplighting: Lighting directed upward for aesthetic or functional purposes.
120. Universal Joint: A flexible joint that transmits torque between shafts.

V
121. Varnishing: Applying a protective or decorative finish.
122. Ventilation Grille: A fabricated component allowing air passage.
123. Vertical Milling: A machining process where the cutting tool rotates vertically.
124. Vibration Welding: Welding using heat generated by vibrations.
125. Vinyl: A synthetic material used in coverings or coatings.

W
126. Water Jet Cutting: Cutting materials using high-pressure water mixed with abrasive particles.
127. Wear Resistance: A material's ability to resist abrasion or erosion.
128. Welding: Joining materials using heat and pressure.
129. Wire EDM: Using electrical discharge to cut materials with precision.
130. Workpiece: The material being worked on during fabrication.

X
131. X-Axis: The horizontal axis in a coordinate system.
132. X-Ray Testing: Non-destructive testing to inspect internal features.

Y
133. Yield Strength: The maximum stress a material can handle before deforming.
134. Yoke: A clamp or support used in machinery.

Z
135. Zinc Coating: A layer of zinc applied to prevent corrosion.
136. Zero Point Clamping: A system for quick and precise alignment during machining.