In order to understand why welding is used in fabrication, you have to understand a little bit about the process. For example, sheet metal fabrication is used for making such items as splash backs, fascias of control panels, electrical enclosures, trims, flashings, machine guards, and various kinds of catering equipment. General fabrication is used for canopies, shelters, stands, tables, grills, and bollards.
A Variety of Processes
When these items are fabricated, manufacturers weld certain components as well as use such other processes as laser cutting, folding, punching, and shearing and sawing. The materials that are used in welding fabrication include aluminum, carbon, copper, brass, and stainless steel. Various techniques are used to weld other metals as well.
For example, spot welding is a spot resistance type of welding technique that is employed to join overlapping sheets of metal, which can be designed up to 3 mm thick. Two electrodes clamp the metal sheets together at the same time and pass a current through the material. The process, like all welding processes, fuses the materials together.
Fusion Welding
Welding fabrication is facilitated when a weld occurs, or when similar metal pieces are joined or melted together before they are solidified as a uniform metal joint. The process is performed by such means as pressure or heat, or by both. If heat alone is utilized, the process is known as fusion welding.
Pressure Welds
Pressure welding, on the other hand, entails heating the surfaces to a more malleable state before forcing the metal together. The heating method makes use of friction or an electrical current that results from moving one surface area relative to the other.
Welding is represented by soldering, brazing, gas welding and flame cutting, arc welding, and TIG and MIG welding. Resistance welding, spot welding, submerged arc welding, and seam welding are also other examples of welding processes.