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    a plasma cutting torch processing steel plate

    Published On - March 8, 2023

    Socius

    How Does a Plasma Cutter Work?

    Plasma cutting is a popular method of custom metal fabrication. Its history as a fabrication tool can be dated back to the 1960s, at which time it was a revolutionary change—before then, metal plates were cut using oxy-fuel and metal-on-metal cutting, two processes that produce a lot of sparks and...
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    a variety of steel finishes

    Published On - March 8, 2023

    Socius

    A Guide to Stainless Steel Finishes

    There are nearly endless applications for stainless steel thanks to its natural corrosion-resistance properties and impressive strength. And while those two characteristics remain the same no matter the application, the appearance of stainless steel can vary because of the many different surface fin...
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    a plasma cutter processing a metal plate

    Published On - February 6, 2023

    Socius

    Two Types of Metal Cutting and Their Benefits

    Custom metal fabricators use many tools to fine-tune their craft. Two examples are CNC laser cutters and waterjet cutters. Both of these machines produce perfectly fabricated products, but they do so in much different ways. Let’s take a closer look at these two methods of metal cutting and the ben...
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    Published On - January 6, 2023

    Socius

    What Does a CNC Plasma Cutting Table Do?

    Plasma cutting is the process of fabricating steel, aluminum, iron, and other metals using intense heat generated by a plasma-fueled torch. It is a powerful means of cutting metal, and when you add CNC controls to the mix, it is also one of the most efficient. CNC stands for computer-numerical contr...
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    Published On - January 6, 2023

    Socius

    How to Choose a CNC Plasma Cutter

    Your custom fabrication shop has had some success, and now you’re looking for ways to take it to the next level. If you’re still fabricating by hand, you may be considering an investment in a CNC plasma cutting table. Doing so can certainly benefit your shop—it’s no secret that automated tec...
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    a CNC plasma burner cutting shapes out of metal sheet

    Published On - December 2, 2022

    Socius

    What Is Metal Fabrication?

    Metal fabrication refers to the art of shaping thin metal sheets and thick metal plates into desired products. Generally speaking, there are two types of metal fabrication: subtractive and non-subtractive. The former involves cutting shapes out of a material, whereas non-subtractive refers to when t...
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    an array of stainless steel sheets

    Published On - December 2, 2022

    Socius

    Classes of Stainless Steel

    As an iron and chromium alloy, stainless steel has excellent corrosion-resistance properties, making it ideal for applications in sterile environments. Examples of these applications include the production of food and beverages, pharmaceutical products, and petrochemicals. Stainless steel falls into...
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    a CNC cutting machine inside a custom fabrication shop

    Published On - November 8, 2022

    Socius

    What Customers Look for in a Metal Fabricator

    If you’ve dipped your toes into metal fabrication work and are considering making it a career, you may be wondering how to be successful at it. After all, there is no shortage of custom fabrication companies out there—how do you stand apart? The key, as with any business, is customer service. To...
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    an automated CNC cutter processing materials

    Published On - November 8, 2022

    Socius

    How Automation Improves Metal Fabrication

    Automated manufacturing refers to the use of control systems to operate equipment. In the metal fabrication industry, this concept is applied to the cutting process via computer-numerical control (CNC) cutting machines, such as plasma and waterjet cutters. Automating the fabrication process can resu...
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